PINEHURST — Monday’s regular season finale for the Richmond Senior High School boys golf team was special for upper and underclassmen.
Ahead of their 18-hole match at Pinehurst No. 7, the Raiders celebrated the program’s two senior golfers — Damon Bryant and Samuel Hawks.
And following the round, sophomore Kevin Tabacolde learned that he had qualified for the NCHSAA 4A Mideast regional for the second straight season.
Pinecrest High School, which won the match and finished atop the Sandhills Athletic Conference standings, qualified for regionals as a team.
Individual qualifiers made it based on the average of their five lowest nine-hole scores this season. Tabacolde, who averaged 45.3 shots per nine holes this spring, posted a low-five average of 43.6 to make the cut.
Freshman CJ Turner, who did not compete Monday, just missed out on the postseason as an individual qualifier. His low-five average was 46.6.
During Monday’s match, the Raiders’ top four golfers combined to score a 198 on the front and a 193 after the turn for a final team score of 391.
Sophomore Camden Williams was dialed in, leading the team with matching 47s on both sides of the halfway house. His final score of 94 was a single-round career-low.
Two shots behind him was freshman Grayson Robson, who posted a 96. He shot a 50 on the front and improved with a 46 on the back nine, as that score was also a new personal low in competition.
Tabacolde shot a 47 on the opening nine holes before ending his day with a 50 on the back half of the course (97). Sophomore James Pack, returning to the starting lineup, rounded out the qualifiers with a 105 (55, 50).
“Great finish to our season at the most difficult course we have played this season, Pinehurst No. 7,” head coach Keith Parsons said. “Camden Williams was our medalist and has come such a long way this season. Great round for him.
“And Grayson Robson, who qualified for the first time for our fourth match, had another great round, too. And Kevin, who was a bit off his game, battled to keep his score as low as possible. Great to have James Pack back in the lineup, and he came through with a top-four score.”
Bryant and Hawks, both of whom joined the golf team for the first time this spring, were Richmond’s other two golfers in contention.
Hawks finished his career with a 106 (55, 51) and Bryant was close behind with a 109 (54, 55) in his final high school match.
“I can’t say enough about Damon and Sam,” Parsons shared. “They came in as seniors playing for the first time with us and qualified for each match. I really appreciate their commitment to the team and to their games, and we wish them all the best in the future.”
Richmond placed sixth overall this season in the SAC standings with 12 points.
The NCHSAA 4A Mideast regional is scheduled for Monday. Tabacolde will compete for a chance to qualify for the state championship round at Pinehurst Country Club.
