PINEHURST — For just the third time this season, and the first time since the second match of the fall on Sept. 17, the Lady Raider golf team participated in a full 18-hole round of golf during Thursday’s regular-season finale.
Just like it opened its season, Richmond Senior High School’s girls’ golf team closed its slate by playing Pinehurst No. 5. The experience of the five other matches between visits to Pinehurst saw the Lady Raiders take 11 strokes off their team score from the first visit for a final tally of 473 (+185).
What head coach Keith Parsons has called the most difficult course his team has played this season, Richmond took fourth place for the seventh time in as many tries. Leading the field was Sandhills Athletic Conference champion Pinecrest High School (329, +41), followed by Jack Britt (401, +113) and Purnell Swett (411, +123) high schools.
Behind the Lady Raiders in fifth place was Scotland High School (475, +187) and Lumberton High School (517, +229).
It was a good day for No. 1 senior Hailey Miller, who, for the seventh time, led the Lady Raiders on the scorecard. She posted a season-best 18-hole score of 90 (+18), seeing the front nine serve as her best half of golf with a 42 (+6). She closed her afternoon with a 48 (+12) on the final nine holes.
More importantly, Miller secured her spot in next week’s regional tournament. It marks the fourth time in her high school career that she’ll play in the postseason. In order to qualify for the 4A central regionals, which will be played at Pinehurst No. 7 on Monday, Oct. 21, Miller had to submit her five best nine-hole rounds and average below a 50. On the season, she averaged a score of 45.1 strokes per nine holes, with her five lowest rounds being 41, 42, 43, 45 and 45.
“For Hailey, she has at least one event left, which will be the regionals next week,” Parsons said. “She’s finding her game at the right time, and she has a great chance to advance to the state tournament again.”
Behind Miller in second place for Richmond was sophomore Kenleigh Frye, fresh off her career best round last week. She posted a 116 (+44), shooting a 52 (+16) on the front before struggling on the back with a 64 (+28). The Lady Raiders were without regular No. 3 sophomore Kirsten McDonald, so it was first-year junior golfer Delaney Driggers who stepped up, shooting a 133 (+61).
Also representing the Lady Raiders were juniors Lauren Humann (134) and Angeli Yang (141).
“I’m happy we finished the season by holding on to fourth on a long day at a tough course,” Parsons said. “I am very appreciative of the effort from everybody all year, and I look forward to seeing how much they improve next season.”
Last season, Miller shot a 90 (+18) in the 4A East regional at Pinehurst No. 1 to qualify for the state championship tournament. She is still waiting to find out her tee time for next Monday’s regional round at Pinehurst No. 7.
ROSports will post a full season recap on the 2019 golf season.
