PINEHURST — In its busiest week of the season, the Richmond Senior High School girls’ golf team played 36 holes in a three-day span.
Returning from an off week, the Lady Raiders played their first complete 18-hole matches of the fall. They started at Whispering Pines on Monday and finished at Pinehurst No. 6 on Wednesday.
Two of the team’s three golfers — juniors Jacey McRae and Ella Munn — competed in both matches. Sophomore Emma Humann joined the team for Wednesday’s competition.
Needing at least three golfers to qualify for the team standings, Richmond’s two-golfer score of 234 didn’t qualify on Monday.
As a team on Wednesday, the Lady Raiders posted a tally of 353, which put them in fifth place behind Scotland High School (336).
“During 18-hole matches, the challenges often include more than golf. It makes for a long day and having the ability to push through makes all the difference,” head coach Keith Parsons said. “I am impressed with Ella and Jacey, who did it twice in three days and continued to do their best.
“And Emma said it was the first time she had played 18 holes in that type of setting,” he added. “All three represented our school very well. We have one more match, also at No. 6 Monday, for them to compile all the improvements they have made this season.”
At Whispering Pines, Munn and McRae both posted identical individual scores on the front and back nine.
Munn shot a pair of 57s to finish with 114, while McRae was even with two 60s to end her round with a 120.
Pinecrest High School, which won both matches this week, led the way with a 239. Second through fourth place were Union Pines (287), Lee County (299) and Scotland (323) high schools.
Two days later with the complete roster on the course, Richmond was led by Munn’s 108 at No. 6. She shot a 54 on the front nine and matched it on the back, taking six strokes off her total.
McRae and Humann almost went shot-for-shot, ending the day within one stroke of one another.
McRae recorded 61s on both sides of the turn (122), while Humann’s 62 on the front and 61 on the back ended with a final posting of 123.
Pinecrest won on its home course with a tally of 221, followed by Lee County (286), Union Pines (288) and Scotland (336).
The Lady Raiders will return to Pinehurst No. 6 next Monday for the Sandhills Athletic Conference season finale, another 18-hole match. Tee times will begin at 2 p.m.
