THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996 TAG: 9610180210
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: 96 lines
NEVER COUNT out a winner.
Cox didn't.
In third place after one round of the Eastern Region golf tournament, eight strokes behind the leader, after playing the tough course and heading to the easier one, it would have been easy for the Cox golf team to concede defeat.
Maybe it would be safer to shoot for second place, only six strokes away, and still slide into the Group AAA state tournament.
Nope, the Cox golf team wouldn't even think of giving up.
``I talked to them before we started play today,'' coach Stuart Holland said Wednesday. ``I asked them if they wanted to go to school Monday and they looked at me funny: `What are you talking about coach, we're going to win this thing.' ''
Indeed, Holland didn't seem too worried after his team shot its worst round of the year at the difficult Williamsburg Country Club - a 335.
He obviously knew something others didn't.
Cox made up 17 strokes in the second round at Suffolk's Sleepy Hole Wednesday to give the Falcons their sixth region golf championship in a row.
``I for one was embarrassed by my round (Tuesday),'' said Matt Paulson, the state medalist two years ago. ``And I'm sure everybody was in agreement with me about everybody's round.
``That was by far the worst we've played all year - all bad on the same day.''
But Cox turned things around with seemingly little effort, with Paulson and Ryan Garland each shooting 1-under par rounds. Ryan Roebuck was 7-over on the par-72 course and Darren Alexander was 10-over for a Falcons round of 303 for a two-day total of 638 - nine strokes ahead of runner-up Salem.
Not even Eastern Region individual champion Kevin Miller of Salem was surprised.
``I had a feeling they'd play better today, they're tough,'' the Sun Devils junior said. ``I talked to Matt last night and he was talking about how everybody was going to play better. They came back and did their best and that says something about their team.''
Never say die, eh?
``I've been coaching for eight years,'' Salem's Sue Rusnock said, ``and Cox didn't surprise me at all. They had a bad round yesterday, but they fought back.''
Rusnock was equally proud of her team, which qualified for the state tournament for the first time in school history.
``I drilled it into their heads this week to take five instead of six,'' Rusnock said. ``Sometimes when kids miss a putt, they end up making it worse on themselves.
``But I'm real happy for them.''
Salem was the leader after one round - just two strokes ahead of Peninsula champion Lafayette.
And with the hard-charging Falcons blowing everyone away, the battle became for the region's No. 2 berth to the state tournament.
Salem won easily in the end, outdistancing the Rams by six strokes.
``I'm glad we made it as a team,'' said Miller, who also is one of the area's best placekickers in football.
Holland was just as thrilled about his group, a six-man squad that has the state team trophy on its mind.
``Definitely,'' Paulson said. ``The team title is the thing this year. It's the first thing on our list. And I think today marks the turnaround we needed.''
Added Holland - whose team has finished second in state play four of the past five years: ``We lost by one stroke two years ago and by five last year, but we had the individual champion both times. I really think the kids would give up the individual thing for the team to win. They're all naturally trying to medal, but they've been more team-oriented this year.''
Joining Paulson in the Falcons' bid are Garland, Alexander, Roebuck, David Krop and John Dunn.
Miller will be joined by teammates Brian Henry, Keith Barry, Kevin Barry, Jeff Dranda and Josh Viohl.
Beach golfers advancing as individuals are Brian Richards of Kempsville and Adam Nielsen of Kellam.
The Group AAA tournament will be held Monday and Tuesday at the Hermitage Country Club's par-72, 6,570-yard Sabot course just west of Richmond. Much like the Williamsburg layout, Hermitage features plenty of rolling hills, trees, sand and water.
Following are directions provided by tournament director Bill Browning of Mills Godwin High: I-64 west to I-295 toward Charlottesville, back to I-64 west. From there, take exit 173 (Rockville/Manakin) south toward Manakin. Travel 1.2 miles to Route 250 and turn right. Travel less than a mile and take a left onto Route 621 (Manakin Road). Travel a half-mile and turn left onto Route 676 (Hermitage Road) and go 1.5 miles to the country club entrance. Tee times for the event are at 9 a.m. both days. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by LAWRENCE JACKSON
Cox High's Ryan Garland turned in a 1-under-par 71 at Sleepy Hole as
he and his teammates rallied from eight strokes back to beat Salem.
Salem's Kevin Miller seems pleased with this putt on the 10th green.
Miller shot 72-75-147 to win the region individual title, beating
Cox's Garland by seven strokes.
KEYWORDS: EASTERN REGION GOLF by CNB