FOXFIRE — Getting a little bit better in each match was one of Keith Parsons’ preseason goals. The Richmond Senior High School boys’ golf coach saw that Monday, as the Raiders hosted their Sandhills Athletic Conference opponents at Foxfire Resort and Golf Club.
In the season’s fourth match, the Raiders competed to a fifth-place finish, the fourth time this season grabbing that spot.
Behind another solid performance from top golfer and sophomore Jonathan Rich, as well as a solid round by junior Noah Altman, the Raiders closed the gap in the standings.
Richmond’s top four golfers of Rich, Altman and sophomores Jaxon Mabe and Jacob Puckett, combined to shoot a 356. That was just five strokes behind fourth-place finisher Purnell Swett High School (351), and was the Raiders’ second-best score of the spring (shot a 349 last week).
Taking first was SAC leader Pinecrest High School (289, +1), followed by Jack Britt (329) and Scotland (347) high schools. Behind the Raiders were Hoke County High School (387, sixth), Lumberton High School (519, seventh) and Seventy-First High School (did not qualify).
“We played really well today,” Parsons commented. “It’s funny, as the day progressed, I checked in with our guys and they seemed pessimistic about their rounds. Then we finished and I quickly saw we had our most consistent day of the season.
“It says so much about where our expectations are individually,” he added.
Rich posted a 77 (+6), tying his career best round. He also shot that score in the season-opener at Bayonet Golf Course. Sliding into the second spot for Richmond was Altman, who posted his career best round, shooting a 92 (+20). That was an improvement of two strokes for Altman from Week 3.
On the front nine, Rich shot a 38 (+2), before finishing with a 39 (+3) on the back. Altman’s line was a 45 (+9) and a 47 (+11).
“Jonathan tied his season low today on a course four or five strokes more difficult than any we’ve played so far,” Parsons noted. “Noah had his best round of the season — he’s been getting better each time out, both in practice and in matches. It was great to see him find a positive result today.”
Mabe and Puckett weren’t far behind Altman, posting respective scores of 93 (+21) and 94 (+22). Both golfers added a couple of strokes to their scores from last week, but the foursome combined to keep the Raiders competitive.
On the front, Mabe notched a 45 (+9) and ended with a 48 (+12), while Puckett shot a 46 (+10) and a 48 (+12).
Other Raiders on the course Monday were sophomores Carter Richardson and Will Thompson. The duo didn’t finish in the top four to qualify for the team score, but shot a 94 and 107, respectively.
Parsons said the team is “hoping” to leapfrog into the fourth-place spot or better next Monday, when Richmond returns to action at Scotch Meadows in Laurinburg. Tee times begin at 2 p.m.
