THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9509290189
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
THIS WAS SUPPOSED to be the year that Great Bridge's stranglehold on the Southeastern District golf championship came to an end.
Graduation claimed the key players on last year's undefeated team.
So what? Forget it.
The Wildcats again reign as the regular-season champion. On Monday, they go after their sixth straight district tournament crown.
Great Bridge captured the regular-season title for the 11th year in a row. But the Wildcats needed help from crosstown rival Western Branch to win it this time.
Great Bridge, Western Branch, Deep Creek and Churchland entered Tuesday's matches at Sleepy Hole with identical 4-1 records. Great Bridge was paired against Churchland. Western Branch tangled with Deep Creek.
According to Southeastern District rules, the title goes to the team that wins the head-to-head match when two schools tie for first place.
Thus, any one of the four had a chance to win the title:
Churchland beat Deep Creek in their match, so the Truckers would be the champion with a victory over Great Bridge and a win by Deep Creek over Western Branch.
Western Branch beat Churchland, so the Bruins would claim the crown if they defeated Deep Creek and the Truckers topped Great Bridge.
Deep Creek defeated Great Bridge, so the Hornets would be the titlist with a victory over Western Branch and a Great Bridge win over Churchland.
The only way for Great Bridge to take the championship would be to defeat Churchland and have Western Branch down Deep Creek. And that's exactly what happened.
Great Bridge posted a 325-335 victory over Churchland and Western Branch bested Deep Creek, 347-359.
``If you weren't so ugly, I'd plant a big kiss on you,'' elated Great Bridge coach Bill Welch said to Western Branch coach Wayne Peterson.
``But nobody can say Great Bridge backed into the title,'' pointed out Churchland coach Duke Conrad. ``Great Bridge simply reached out and took it. The players have become accustomed to winning and handle the pressure well. They deserved the championship.''
Actually, Great Bridge needed a season-ending win over Norcom to lock up the title. The Wildcats registered that victory Thursday at Seven Springs as regular-season play came to an end.
The Wildcats' Matt Perron shot a 5-over-par 77 to take medalist honors in the match with Churchland. No. 4 player Eddie Fisher carded an 81, No. 2 player Todd Wigfield had an 83 and No. 5 Bud Grissom posted 84.
Churchland had an 80 from Robert Davis, an 81 from Jason McEwen, an 82 from Robbie Floyd and a 92 from Bobby Byrne.
``It was the worst our team has played all year,'' said Conrad.
``That's the first time all year I have been out of the 70s,'' said Davis, who missed a short putt at the 18th that would have given him a 79.
The players finished shortly before dark in slight rain.
Ryder Randolph, Western Branch's No. 5 player, sparked the Bruins' victory with 78. It was his best round of the year. Matt Renfro added an 84.
Deep Creek had an 83 from Jeremy Carroll and an 85 from Chris Huntzinger. But the Hornets had to use a 101 as their fourth best score.
While Deep Creek coach Richard Cox was unhappy that his Hornets lost an opportunity to win their first title, he was pleased with the progress of his team this year.
``I think we showed we belong there with the good teams,'' he said.
The Wildcats automatically qualify for the Eastern Region. But the two-day district tournament will decide the other two teams joining Great Bridge in post-season play.
In addition to the team qualifiers, the five highest finishers among players on other teams will gain region berths.
There are 46 players competing.
The first round will start at 7:30 a.m. Monday at Sleepy Hole. The second round will be at Seven Springs on Tuesday, also starting at 7:30 a.m.
``If either round is canceled due to weather or other reasons, the qualifiers will be decided by a single round,'' tournament director Dave Willett said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by VICKI CRONIS
Todd Wigfield, No. 2 player for Great Bridge, winces after missing a
putt.
by CNB