THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 19, 1994 TAG: 9410190585
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Cox High's Matt Paulson has often been referred to as the cousin of Carl Paulson, the All-American golfer who played at South Carolina after tearing up the local scene while at First Colonial.
But Matt escaped Carl's shadow Tuesday in the final round of the Eastern Region Golf Championships at Sleepy Hole Golf Course.
The 15-year-old sophomore posted a 10-shot victory in the race for medalist honors.
Over two days, the first at par-71 The Hamptons, Paulson shot even-par 71 and backed it up with a sterling 4-under-par 68 at Sleepy Hole. Cox used Paulson's two-day total of 4-under 139 to lock up their fourth consecutive Eastern Region team title, shooting 627 and beating runner-up Kempsville by seven shots. Both teams go to next week's Group AAA state tournament.
``This is just unbelievable,'' said Paulson after a five-birdie, one-bogey round. ``I'd never shot better than 1-over in a match and to do it twice on back-to-back days . . . I'm shocked.''
So was the rest of the field. Salem freshman Kevin Miller shot 73-76-149 to take second place and Robert Davis of Churchland placed third with 78-74-152.
Paulson scored early and often as he birdied the par-5 second hole, sinking a 10-foot birdie putt, then birdied the par-4 8th after hitting a 6-iron to within 10 feet. He turned in 2-under 34 at about the same time that Miller, the only player within six shots of Paulson after the opening round, was finishing his round.
Paulson then birdied the par-5 10th, hitting a 7-iron to eight feet.
``I found out what Kevin had shot at the 13th when (playing partner) Alton Todd told me,'' Paulson said. ``I wasn't too worried after that.''
Paulson bogeyed the 14th, the hardest par-4 on the course, after a poor 2-iron approach. But he rebounded with birdies at the par-5 15th and par-3 16th, sinking short putts on each.
``I made everything within 15 feet today,'' Paulson said. ``I was just stroking it so well. Two days before, I wasn't playing that well and didn't know what to expect, but it wasn't much. Then Carl's dad (Ned) helped me change my putting grip to use my left hand more.''
Kempsville charged into second place when it became the only team to post four scores in the 70s - Nathan Mitchum (75), Gjert Hammersland (77), Jeff Kristofak (78) and Brian Richards (78) - on the same day. The Chiefs skirted past Western Branch and opening-day leader Tabb to earn the second team spot. They also broke up a monopoly on team bids to the state tournament. Cox and Great Bridge had represented the region at the last four state tournaments.
The state tournament is Monday and Tuesday at The Hamptons.
Also qualifying individually were Miller, Davis, Western Branch's Scott Wasco, Phoebus' Chris Lee, Great Bridge's Alton Todd and Granby's Gary Crutcher. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Cox's Matt Paulson wasn't often in trouble Tuesday, firing a 4-under
68 en route to a 10-shot individual Eastern Region title win.
by CNB