THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 22, 1996 TAG: 9610220409
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 56 lines
The Cox golf team will need another miracle finish if it expects to finally win a state championship in golf.
The Falcons - who have finished second four out of the last five years - found themselves in second place after one round at the Hermitage Country Club Sabot course, but 13 strokes behind leader and two-time defending champion Mills Godwin.
Cox was eight out of first place in last week's Eastern Region tournament, but shot into the lead with a 17-stroke turnaround to win a sixth-straight title.
But playing Mills Godwin on its home course will make it tough.
``On their home course? You have to think they've got it,'' Falcons coach Stuart Holland said. ``We were hoping to be back four or five strokes if any, so 13 makes it tough.
``But we've proven before that we can do it. We'll have to put up some better scores tomorrow.''
Like Falcons senior Matt Paulson, who shot a 1-under par 71 to take the first day lead among individuals. Paulson captured the individual state championship two years ago.
``I hit the ball solid today . . . pretty straight,'' Paulson said. ``And I made a lot of putts. I had five birdies.''
Including a 90-footer on No. 14, and one from 25 on 13. He hit a short putt on 15 for three birdies in a row.
``I guess I'm thinking about getting my title back,'' he said.
Hot on his heels is fellow Beach golfer Kevin Miller of Salem - the Eastern Region champion.
Miller hit a beautiful approach shot on the par-4 18th - placing the ball three feet from the pin for an easy birdie and an even round to finish one behind Paulson.
``I feel pretty good right now,'' Miller, a junior, said. ``All I wanted to do was not play myself out of the tournament and I guess I accomplished that.''
Miller could have been in the lead, but missed several birdie putts.
``I was putting good,'' he said. ``But a lot of them just didn't fall. I hit the ball good enough to score low and that gives me confidence for tomorrow.''
The battle today between Paulson and Miller will be a flashback to 1994, when Paulson won his title. The two were two shots apart that year heading into the final round.
``Tomorrow's going to be fun,'' Miller said.
While the two are battling for individual honors, Cox will be battling for at least another second-place finish. That won't be easy, however, as the Falcons have only a one-stroke lead over Hylton and two over Franklin County. Clover Hill is in the thick of things, four behind Cox.
Salem, the region runner-up, shot itself out of contention and finished eighth out of the eight teams with a 337.
``We're all hoping that Kevin can pull it out,'' Sun Devils coach Sue Rusnock said. ``This was our worst round of the year and we picked a bad time to shoot it.'' by CNB