THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 6, 1996 TAG: 9610040297
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 29 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 60 lines
A PATTERN IS starting to develop for the Nansemond River golf team that might make other teams envious.
For three years in a row, the Warriors have either won the regular-season championship in their league or won the district tournament.
Two years ago, the Warriors finished second in the regular season but won the Bay Rivers District Tournament. Last year, Nansemond River was second in the tournament but won the regular-season crown.
This year, Nansemond River stepped up a class from Group AA to AAA and moved into the Southeastern District.
And the recent tradition moved right with it.
Nansemond River finished in second place in the eight-man conference behind Great Bridge. However, the Warriors put together two impressive rounds at the Suffolk and Sleepy Hole courses Monday and Tuesday to win the Southeastern District Tournament by a whopping 18 shots over Great Bridge.
Nansemond River had four-player totals of 323 and 334 for an overall score of 657.
``I felt pretty comfortable after the first round,'' Nansemond River coach Don Horne said. ``I didn't believe we could blow a 14-stroke lead.''
Blow it? The Warriors raised the lead by four strokes.
Nansemond River had the top two finishers with Shaun Robertson winning medalist honors.
Robertson, a junior, posted 78-80-158. He had a 3-shot edge over teammate Evan Spivey (81-80-161).
``I had birdies on the second and 15th holes,'' Robertson said. ``And it would have been a much better round without the seven I had at the 18th.''
The pin placement at the 18th made the par four hole extremely difficult. Only two players in the field managed to par it. Nobody had a birdie there. Robertson three-putted the hole which was placed on an incline at the front edge of the green. Two players had 12s on the hole. A half dozen golfers had 10 or 11.
Robertson's victory made a pre-season observation by his coach amazingly accurate. Said Horne at the outset of the season, ``I think Shaun has the potential to be the best in the district.''
This season's success is nothing new for Robertson. He qualified for the state tournament his freshman and sophomore years.
Nansemond River will be joined by Great Bridge and Western Branch in the Eastern Regional, scheduled at Williamsburg Country Club and Sleepy Hole on Oct. 15-16.
Great Bridge had 337-338-675 in the district meet and Western Branch was third with 347-366-713. Lakeland finished fifth behind Indian River. Hickory and Oscar Smith tied for sixth and Deep Creek was eighth.
Lakeland's Scott White was one of five players on non-qualifying teams to gain regional berths. White had 82-89-171 to place eighth overall. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN
Nansemond River's Shaun Robertson tees off during play at Sleepy
Hole. He finished with medalist honors.
Nansemond River's Michael Byrum works his way through the course.
KEYWORDS: SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT GOLF TOURNAMENT by CNB