THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 30, 1995 TAG: 9508300675
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Matt Paulson snuck up on the competition last season like a flash flood.
This season, he's more like a hurricane gathering strength.
Paulson broke into the winner's circle with an impressive 10-shot victory in the Eastern Region championships last October, then followed with a one-shot victory in the state Group AAA championships the following week.
Not bad for a sophomore who played No. 2 for Cox High School much of the season.
``I just wasn't real consistent during the regular season,'' said Paulson, now a junior. ``I had a couple rounds in the 80s.''
Such rounds are almost unheard of these days. In fact, any time Paulson shoots 75 or worse, his competitors whisper, ``Man, he must have had an off day.''
Paulson, whose cousin Carl is a rookie on the PGA Tour, has been a model of consistency this summer, winning the Virginia State Golf Association's Junior Match-Play championship at Princess Anne Country Club in June and nearly winning on a couple other occasions.
He lost in a playoff to Scott Shupe last week in the Tidewater Junior at Cypress Point. He lost in a three-way playoff for the 17-and-under title in the Payton Memorial at Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club in July. And he finished tied for second overall in the VSGA State Junior at Kingsmill's Plantation Course at the beginning of August.
His rounds in those three events: 76-69-75-69-74-76-72.
Paulson, 16, also represented the state in the Virginia-West Virginia and Virginias-Carolinas junior team matches over the summer.
As much as he'd like to defend his state high school title - the AAA championships will be played at Virginia Oaks in Gainesville - there is a more pressing matter: a team title.
The Falcons lost to by a shot to Mills Godwin last season in the state championships.
``Winning it last year takes a little pressure off,'' Paulson said of his individual title. ``I've won it once. The big thing now is the team title, and we've got eight or nine guys who can regularly shoot in the 70s.''
Also in Cox's starting six are seniors Troy Cummings, Kevin Murphy and Ryan Marks and sophomores Ryan Roebuck and Darren Alexander. In high school golf, the top six play, with the best four scores counting.
``We should shoot a few sub-300 rounds this year,'' Paulson said. ``I like team golf. It's often such an individual sport. But when you play for a team you play a little different. Sometimes you change your thinking for the good of the team.''
Paulson says there will be no change in the high standards he sets for himself. He imagined contending for titles even before it happened. The perceptions of others, however, might differ this season.
``I think people might think more of me and expect more of me,'' Paulson said. ``In a way, I need to come out and prove myself again. But my expectations are the same: Shoot under par and win matches.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/Staff
by CNB