ROCKINGHAM — Senior golfer Jamie Sears has been named the ROSports Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week presented by HWY 55.
The Richmond Observer will spotlight one male and one female student-athlete from Richmond Senior High School each week based on his and her respective performance to help their team.
Rounding out the first week is Sears, a second-year golfer who has emerged as one of the Lady Raiders’ leaders this fall.
The high school golf schedule plays one match per week, and the past two Mondays, Sears has been at the top of Richmond scorecard, helping her to her first career recognition.
Athletic Profile
Age: 17
Birthday: Oct. 1, 2003
Year: Senior
Fall Sport: Golf
Years on Varsity: 2 years
Height & Weight: 5-7, 170 pounds
Experience: 2.5 years
TEEING OFF WITH JAMIE SEARS
Taking up high school golf during her junior season, and in the midst of a pandemic-shortened campaign, Sears has been one of the Lady Raiders’ most consistent golfers the past two seasons.
The left-handed golfer is coming off back-to-back rounds where she posted her career-low nine-hole score. Last week in Richmond’s home match at Foxfire, Sears shot a 55 to break her previous best round by three strokes.
Sears followed up that performance with another 55 on Monday during Richmond’s third match of the season at Sanford Golf Course. She’s averaging 57 shots per nine holes.
The Lady Raiders currently sit in fifth place in the Sandhills Athletic Conference standings with four points, just three behind Lee County and Scotland high schools.
Richmond will play in its fourth match of the season next Monday in Hoke County. It will be the first 18-hole match of the fall, beginning at 2 p.m.
Jamie Sears tees off during Richmond’s match at Foxfire on Sept. 13. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)
RAPID RESPONSES WITH JAMIE SEARS
ROSports: Describe what your journey has been like the past two seasons with the golf team.
Sears: “I picked up golf as a hobby, and then saw on Twitter about tryouts. Ethan Brown talked me into playing, and I’ve really enjoyed working with Coach (Keith) Parsons.
“I got my friend Abigail (Tatum) to play, and playing last year alongside the boys made us more competitive. The best part is all the new experiences, and this is my first high school sport. It’s been fun to be part of the team and is a hobby I can play after high school.”
ROSports: Of all the courses you’ve played, which is your favorite and what’s been the most challenging?
Sears: “Pinehurst No. 1 is such an iconic course that is every golfer’s dream. It’s such a different experience than the traditional, every weekend course.
“Pinehurst No. 7 was the most challenging, and it took me a while to get used to the longer course. There was a lot of uphill play and that was a big mental battle for me.”
ROSports: You graduate in June toward the top of your class. What are you involved in at Richmond and what are your post-secondary aspirations?
Sears: “I’m the first vice president of Senate and the senior secretary of BETA Club. I’m also in the Future Farmers of America, National Honor Society and Future Teachers of America. And I take dual-enrollment classes at RichmondCC.
“Right now I’m favoring N.C. State or UNC Chapel Hill and I want to study speech pathology, but more on the medical side. I’m really excited to go to college. It’s an interesting career, and I read about it in health science class. I’ve always been interested in healthcare and it combines everything I love, including helping people.”
ROSports: Name a teacher who has influenced or impacted you during high school, and what about them has helped you?
Sears: “It would definitely be Mrs. (Suzanne) Hudson. We have the closest bond, I’ve been with her since AP Gov in 10th grade and I can almost finish her sentences. She does a lot for our school with Beta Club and the Teacher Cadet program.
“Mrs. Hudson has really pushed me to better myself and broke down to me that it’s not all about being at the top of my class. It’s what you do to get there, and helping others along the way, that sets you apart as a student.”
ROSports: Can you share an interesting fact about yourself that many people may not know and would find surprising?
Sears: “I’m quiet to a lot of people, but I have a really dry sense of humor and can be sarcastic.”
The Richmond Observer will publish two more Official Richmond County Athletes of the Week next week.
