DATE: Friday, October 3, 1997               TAG: 9710030883

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   46 lines

GREAT BRIDGE WINS DISTRICT GOLF TOURNEY BY 18 SHOTS

Great Bridge put an end to Suffolk's party-crashing.

After gaining a one-stroke first-round lead in the Southeastern District golf tournament, the Wildcats pulled away from Lakeland in the final round.

Evan Adamson and Mike Nemcosky shot 7-over-par 70s Thursday as Great Bridge won the district tournament with a total of 627 at Chesapeake Golf Club.

The Wildcats, who already had an automatic berth to the Eastern Region Tournament because of their regular-season title, finished 18 strokes ahead of Lakeland.

``It was important,'' said Nemcosky, who finished as the second runner-up (156). ``People remember us choking so they wanted to see what we did this year.''

Great Bridge won the regular-season title last year but was edged out by Nansemond River in the tournament.

About the only similarities between the two district tournaments, however, was the top two individual finishers being from Suffolk.

Lakeland's Ryan Lambert, a transfer from Nansemond-Suffolk, shot 147 to win medalist honors. Nansemond River's Evan Spivey was the runner-up for the second straight year after shooting 152.

``I just hit a lot of fairways and greens,'' Lambert said. ``I didn't have a lot of big numbers, and I played smart.''

Indian River, led by Keith Vasconcellos' 160, placed third. The top three teams advance to the regional tournament Oct. 14-15 at Bow Creek and Lake Wright.

Great Bridge, winner of 12 straight regular-season titles, considered the district tournament a ``must-win.''

However, going in as a heavy favorite and finishing on their home course where all six of the golfers live didn't result in an overwhelming performance by the Wildcats.

``I think it's fantastic we won the tournament . . . however, we know we have to play better in the regional to achieve our goal of going to,'' the state tournament, Great Bridge coach Chris Osmon said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Lakeland's Ryan Lambert lines up his last putt of the day at the

Southeastern District golf tournament. He shot 147 to win medalist

honors.

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