THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509020148
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 134 lines
A STRANGLEHOLD ON the Southeastern District golf championship could be coming to an end for Great Bridge this year.
The Wildcats have held the top spot in the Southeastern throughout the 1990s.
But graduation ripped away much of the talent that produced last year's undefeated district team. Churchland and Western Branch pose solid threats to the Wildcats' hold on No. 1.
Nevertheless, both Churchland coach Duke Conrad and Western Branch coach Wayne Peterson still view Great Bridge as the team to beat.
A capsule look at the eight teams, in predicted order of finish:
1. CHURCHLAND
Conrad, in his sixth year at Churchland, views this club as ``the best I've had from top to bottom.''
Seven lettermen are back. Three promising newcomers add more depth to the squad.
The Truckers, third a year ago, have a good 1-2 punch in seniors Robert Davis and Jason McEwen. Davis has carried the team's low stroke average for three straight years.
McEwen was the team's MVP a year ago.
Sophomore Robert Floyd is playing in the third slot. He was the top newcomer last year.
At No. 4 is junior Jason Gregory, who was picked as the top newcomer in 1993 and the most improved player on the '94 team.
Senior Andy Jordan, junior Don Swears and senior Eric Sumner are battling for the fifth and sixth spots.
The new prospects are sophomore Robert Byrne, freshman John Facenda and junior Jennifer Kay, the perennial girls champion in city junior golf.
``Our team has the potential to shoot in the low 300s, which we showed at Bow Creek (307) in an opening match.
``I feel Davis and McEwen will be threatening for medalist honors in every match we play.''
2. WESTERN BRANCH
The Bruins have such a balanced squad that five different returning players won medalist honors in matches last year.
The holdovers are Heather Jeffries, Scott Wasco, Ashley Moody, Ryder Randolph and Matt Renfrow. Jeffries, unquestionably the top female golfer in the district, was medalist in two 1994 matches.
Robey Baker, a transfer from Churchland, junior Gabe Fritz and sophomore Brad Deafenbaugh are the standout prospects among the newcomers.
``If we play up to our potential,'' said Peterson, ``we will be contending for the district championship. Our team has excellent balance with maturity.''
Western Branch lost only to Great Bridge in district play last year and was 10-2 overall.
3. GREAT BRIDGE
The Wildcats don't have the dominant players of past years but five returning lettermen should make Great Bridge a title contender.
Todd Wigfield, a 13th-place finisher in last year's district tournament, and Matt Perron, who tied for ninth in last year's district meet, lead the holdovers.
Also back are Hollie Corbin, Kevin Manning and Bud Grissom.
Top newcomers are Pat McDuff, Eddie Fisher and Chad Clatterbaugh.
4. INDIAN RIVER
Gary Everton expects his Braves to progress with the season.
``We should get better as we go along,'' said Everton, whose team was 7-4 last year and 5-2 in the district.
But it may be tough to equal that district record.
A senior team, Indian River has four 12th graders in the lineup. Joe Majetrick plays No. 1. Sophomore Chris Taylor plays behind him.
The other senior holdovers are Jamie Ives, Asron Hill and Jesse West.
Bidding for positions are newcomers Brannon Abrams and Keith Van Concellos. Both are freshmen.
5. DEEP CREEK
The Hornets' No. 1 player, Chris Huntzinger, will be among the contenders for district medalist honors. He is a senior who was fifth in the district last year.
Junior Jeremy Carroll is a solid No. 2 player.
Just how successful the Hornets are ``really will depend on our 3, 4, 5 and 6 players,'' said coach Richard Cox.
Deep Creek had two district wins last year and should improve upon that mark.
Damon Knox, a senior, is playing No. 3. Junior Jacob Estes is at No. 4 and senior Mike Gettier is No. 5. First-year player Buck Schwartz, a sophomore, is the best of the newcomers and probably will be No. 6.
``We lost a couple of returners but we have one of the best in Huntzinger,'' said Cox.
6. OSCAR SMITH
Fourth-year coach Pat Troia has seen improvement in the Tigers in each of the past three seasons and believes ``we will improve again this year.''
The Tigers had two district wins last year and were 6-7 overall.
``With our top four players back, we certainly expect to better last year's record,'' said Troia.
Bryan Belangia, who played several matches as No. 1 a year ago, will be at that position this season. He's a sophomore and already has trimmed 8 to 10 strokes off last year's scores.
Senior Chris James, also much improved from a year ago, has moved from the No. 4 position to No. 2. Senior Chad Page, who missed qualifying for the regional by one shot last year, is at No. 3.
Jay Carrington, a junior, is No. 4.
A pair of freshmen, Brandon Long and Brian Smith, are scrapping for the No. 5 and No. 6 slots. ``Both are showing good potential,'' said Troia.
7. WILSON
After a year away, Mike Pullen has returned as the Presidents' coach. This will be his ninth season as a head coach. He formerly coached the Manor team.
Wilson has two holdovers, juniors Shawron White and Eric Coltrane.
``Both are steadily improving,'' said Pullen. White, the No. 1 player, barely missed qualifying for the Eastern Region tourney last year.
Sophomore Gary Johnson is playing No. 3. A freshman, Ryan Duncan, is at No. 4. Robert Stitt, the only senior on the team, will be at No. 5.
``The players have good attitudes and are willing to learn,'' added Pullen. ``The team was 5-9 last year and we hope to improve upon that.''
8. NORCOM
The Greyhounds are still hoping to field a complete team. At present coach Joe Gatling has only three players.
``We hope to add a couple more,'' said Gatling.
One of the holdovers is Monica Harris, a much improved player. Last year, she had back-to-back 129s in the district meet.
Elsewhere, Cox is a solid favorite to win the Beach District, and Granby is the standout team in the Eastern District. Cox also is regarded as the regional favorite and a likely state title contender. ILLUSTRATION: SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT GOLF PREVIEW Photo by PETER D. SUNDBERG
Western Branch's Heather Jeffries, a Bruins holdover, was a medalist
in two 1994 matches.
Monica Harris returns to play on the Norcom Greyhounds team.
Truckers pin hopes on Jason McEwen, last year's MVP.
Robert Davis has carried the Truckers' low stroke average.
by CNB