DATE: Friday, September 26, 1997            TAG: 9709240168

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAY LIDINGTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   65 lines

CHURCHLAND GOLFER EYES DISTRICT TITLE

CHURCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL golfer Robbie Floyd has an ideal birthday present in mind for himself.

A cake would be nice and so would a card, but the ultimate hallmark for Floyd's 17th birthday on Oct. 1 would be an Eastern District championship for him and his teammates.

With the district tournament scheduled for Monday and Tuesday and Churchland holding onto first place going into its showdown with Maury this week in the season's final match, Floyd and the Truckers are optimistic.

Past that, Floyd has set a berth in the state golf tournament and playing golf at the college level among his goals. A good performance in coming weeks will help him achieve both.

``Something that will help him is if we can pull out the district title and we play with the best (in the region tournament),'' said Churchland Coach Duke Conrad. ``He'll come with his ``A'' game. He thrives on showing guys he's someone who deserves to be up there with them.''

Such situations motivate Floyd. He mentions his competitive round with Cox's Ryan Garland at Hell's Point as a pivotal moment in his season.

In a matchup of No. 1 players for each team, Garland shot 75 to Floyd's 78. Floyd said his round could have been in the 60s had it not been for ``mental mistakes,'' including several approach shots that found their way into greenside bunkers.

Another key was ``the big match,'' as Floyd calls it - Churchland's win over Granby earlier this season at Sleepy Hole. Floyd shot a 78 and won medalist honors.

``Going into the season, we were seeded third at best,'' Floyd said. ``When we beat them, it was a big step. The team was on an emotional high.

``It got me thinking I can play with the best. Maybe I can't beat them, but I can stay with them.''

A part-time No. 1 player last season, Floyd's commitment has turned him into one of Churchland's most consistent golfer ever, according to Conrad. As of press time, Floyd had shot 80 or higher only once. He fired an 82 in an August match in which he medaled.

In the last week of the regular season as well as the postseason, Conrad said he'd like to see Floyd remain consistent and shave strokes from his short game.

Experience also will provide Floyd an edge in the district tournament to be held at Ocean View and Sleepy Hole, his home course for four years.

The Eastern Region tournament the next week will be held at Red Wing and Lake Wright, where Floyd shot a 75 - his lowest round of the year - and was a medalist in a match with Norview.

Conrad said Floyd owes his coming-of-age to a new maturity on the course. When he's struggling, Floyd keeps his composure and knows when to put pressure on himself and when to let go of his mistakes.

Players like Floyd ``. . . know immediately what they did wrong,'' Conrad said. ``They have a feel for the game and they know how to make adjustments. That's why he's been so successful.''

That maturity also has paid off for a young Truckers team. A junior, three sophomores and six freshmen look to Floyd for tips and guidance.

``I try to help them any time I can,'' Floyd said. ``Any time they they ask me to help them with their swing, I'm there.'' ILLUSTRATION: File photo

Robbie Floyd is optimistic about how the Truckers will do in the

Eastern District championship next week. KEYWORDS: HIGH SCHOOL GOLF

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