R-H thrives on the links
Published 11:54 am Wednesday, September 7, 2016
- Photo by Eddie Pyle George Thomas Sandridge competes against Prince Edward on Aug. 30 in Farmville.
The Randolph-Henry High School golf team had a dominant week across two tri-matches, winning by no fewer than 46 strokes.
The Statesmen improved their overall record for this season to 17-0, including a 14-0 mark in the district. Their district win streak, which crosses multiple seasons, is now at 169.
The Statesmen recorded a 148 team score Thursday, Nottoway shot a 194 and Prince Edward shot a 225 at Briery Country Club.
“Evan Mason really played well,” Randolph-Henry Head Coach Kelly Powell said, as Mason registered a three-under-par 33.
R-H’s Matthew Myers shot a 37, Skylar Lacks shot a 38 and Gunnar Lacks hit a 40.
Photo by Eddie Pyle
Gunnar Lacks is poised to drive against Nottoway on Thursday in Keysville.
On Aug. 30, Randolph-Henry had a team score of 158, Cumberland shot a 211 and Prince Edward shot a 214 at Farmville Municipal Golf Course.
Leading R-H was Myers, with a one-over-par 37. Gunnar Lacks recorded a 39, while Mason, Eli Moore and Nathan Towery each shot a 41.
Powell said competition for playing time is particularly strong among the team’s top 10, which includes Mitch Dunn, Larkin Jackson, Gunnar Lacks, Skylar Lacks, Mason, Moore, Myers, Logan Newcomb, Nathan Towery and George Sandridge.
Only six of Randolph-Henry’s 14 players can play on match day, so there is strong, motivated competition to be part of that select group.
“You can’t come to practice and play around,” Powell said. “It’s almost like every day in practice is like being in a match.”
Having so many good players to choose from for match day is both a blessing and a challenge for the coach.
“Sometimes I wish it was like basketball,” he said, where he could make substitutions, giving everyone a chance to play.
But he ultimately expressed gratitude for the high level of participation in the sport and praised Central Middle School’s golf program, led by Head Coach J.R. Allen, for serving as a strong feeder system for Randolph-Henry.
The Statesmen faced Bluestone and Nottoway on Tuesday at Kinderton Country Club, and they return to the links Thursday at Falling River Country Club, where they will play against Buckingham and Goochland.
