THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 2, 1996 TAG: 9610020453
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 67 lines
Nansemond River and Granby, two teams with different inspirational motivations to the same goal, won district golf championships Tuesday at Sleepy Hole.
Nansemond River, determined to continue the success it had at the Group AA level, claimed the Southeastern District crown in its first quest for the AAA league title.
Granby, dedicating its victory to an injured team member, wrapped up its third straight Eastern District championship.
Nansemond River shot 323-334 - 657 for a decisive 18-stroke edge over second-place Great Bridge. Nansemond River's Shaun Robertson captured medalist honors in the Southeastern, edging teammate Evan Spivey by three shots.
Robertson followed an opening-round 78 at the Suffolk course Monday with an 80 at Sleepy Hole for 158.
Another Nansemond River player, first-round leader Michael Byrum struggled to a 90 after an opening 76 to grab fourth place.
Great Bridge, the regular-season champion, had three top-six finishers. Pat McDuff was third with 80-85 - 165, Bud Cahoon was fifth with 82-84 - 166 and Mike Nemcosky tied with Deep Creek's Jeremy Carroll for sixth with 86-83 - 169.
Western Branch grabbed the other team berth in the Eastern Regional, taking third with 347-366 - 713.
The five players gaining regional spots from non-qualifying teams were Deep Creek's Carroll, Lakeland's Scott White (171), Oscar Smith's Bryan Belangia (172) and Indian River's Chris Taylor (173) and Brannon Abrams (176). Abrams defeated teammate Keith Vasconcellos in a one-hole playoff.
``It took a little pressure off me when Mike (Byrum) was having trouble,'' said Robertson. ``Nobody else was really pushing me. I had a couple of birdies (No. 2 and No. 15) but I wasn't really playing very well.''
Gary Crutcher led Granby with 79-84 - 163, winning Eastern medalist honors. The first round was played Monday at Ocean View. The Comets had 323-351 - 674.
``I played a lot better in finishing in a tie for second last year,'' said Crutcher. ``But I was happy to make birdie on the last hole because I knew I had to have a par to win.''
``The players dedicated this win to Robert Boyd,'' said Granby coach Marty Bechtol. ``He was injured in a car wreck on Friday and won't be able to play anymore this year.''
Boyd, a junior and the Comets' No. 4 player, underwent 2 1/2 hours of surgery after leg injuries.
Churchland's Robbie Floyd and Maury's J.R. Lockery tied for second in the individual race. Floyd had 80-85 - 165 and Lockery shot 79-86 - 165.
Granby shared the next three spots with Churchland's Bobby Byrne at 167. Matt Hahne had 84-83 and Bryan Knight posted 78-89. Byrne carded 80-87.
Churchland and Booker T. Washington captured the two regional team berths as the Comets already had qualified as regular-season champs.
The Truckers were second with 699 and the Bookers nipped Maury by one shot for third with 741. Jonathan Elliott paced Booker T. with 84-85 - 169.
The qualifiers for the regional from non-qualifying teams, in addition to Lockery, were Paul McMillian of Norview (172), Casey O'Hearn of Maury (177), Chris Smith of Norview (180) and Wilson's Eric Coltrain (188). ILLUSTRATION: MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN PHOTOS
The Virginian-Pilot
Granby's Gary Crutcher stopped off in the woods en route to medalist
honors in the Eastern District golf tournament Tuesday.
Nansemond River's Shawn Robertson was the Southeastern District
medalist. by CNB