THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 18, 1995 TAG: 9510180510
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Cox maintained its stranglehold on the Eastern Region golf championship, winning a fifth consecutive year as the 36-hole tournament concluded Tuesday at Red Wing Golf Course.
The Falcons, undefeated throughout the season and the Beach District regular-season and tournament champion, added a 307 to Monday's opening 309 for a 616.
That gave Cox an 18-shot edge over runner-up Granby (634). The Comets held on to nip Bayside by a stroke for the region's second berth in next week's Group AAA state tournament at Gainesville.
``I believe Granby is the first Norfolk team to qualify for the state since we started this region format,'' said longtime Maury coach Jerry Sazio.
Medalist honors went to Kellam's Adam Dixon with 73-74-147. He earned one of the six berths awarded to the state tourney for players on non-qualifying teams.
The other spots went to Salem's Kevin Miller (79-72-151), Churchland's Robert Davis (77-74-151), Kellam's Adam Neilsen (79-74-153), Bayside's Ryan Garland (76-79-155) and First Colonial's Brian Horan (79-76-155).
Miller's par round of 36-36 was the best effort of the day. He played the first seven holes in 2-under. He had birdies on No. 5, No. 6 and No. 12 and a string of bogeys at the 8th, 9th and 10th.
Just as Cox coach Stuart Holland was hoping, the Falcons placed four players in the 70s in the closing round. Ryan Roebuck fired 75, Ryan Marks had 76, Troy Cummings posted 77 and Matt Paulson,
last year's medalist, shot 79.
``We're tickled about having another shot at the state championship,'' said Holland. ``The past four years, we've been runner-up three times and third the other time.''
Sparked by Gary Crutcher's 76-75-151, Granby checked a determined bid by Bayside for second. The Marlins finished early with 311 for a 635 total after a 324 Monday at Ocean View had left them 9 shots behind the Comets.
``My team gave me all I could ask for,'' said Bayside coach Bob Parker. ``We had four players in the 70s. It was a game effort.''
A bogey on the par-five 18th hole by Crutcher as most of the Marlins looked on clinched a state berth for the Comets.
Granby had 315-319-634, getting a 77 Tuesday from Jason Copeland, 83 from Robert Boyd and 84 from Cameron Tenney.
Bayside was paced by a 76 from Matt Hood, 77 by freshman Justin Halverson (who had a 97 Monday), and 79s from Garland and David White.
Dixon's 74 included two birdies and four bogeys. The senior dropped a 10-foot putt at the second hole and holed a 22-footer at No. 12.
Trophies went to the top three teams and medals to the low five individual scorers.
There was a four-way tie for second place between Miller, Davis, Cummings and Crutcher at 151. In a playoff for medals, Miller birdied the second hole to take the runner-up silver medal. Third went to Davis on a par at the third hole. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
PAUL AIKEN/The Virginian-Pilot
Troy Cummings' didn't like the result of a putt, but his 5-over 77
was one of four Cox rounds under 80 Tuesday at Red Wing.
by CNB