PINEHURST — The Richmond Senior High School boys’ and girls’ golf teams each finished third in Tuesday’s Sandhills Athletic Conference regular-season finale.
Competing in their second straight 18-hole match at Pinehurst No. 6, the Raiders shot a team score of 394 and the Lady Raiders finished with a 472.
“Tough day for both groups,” head coach Keith Parsons said. “I think that is one downside to everyone from each team playing in the same group.
“Ordinarily, if you are in a group with players from different schools, you aren’t invested in how the others are going. When it is your teammate having a hiccup here and there, it can affect the others, too.”
Richmond’s boys finished just four strokes behind rival Scotland High School (390), as the two teams have battled for the second and third spots in the SAC standings all season. Heading into the SAC championship round, Richmond (31.5 points) trails Scotland by one point (32.5 points).
The Lady Raiders ended 38 shots behind second-place Scotland, but still sit comfortably in the second overall spot in the conference rankings with 31 points, eight points ahead of Lumberton High School.
Both of Pinecrest High School’s teams won the match, with the boys shooting a 320 and the girls ending with a 372.
Senior Jonathan Rich led the Raiders with an 81 (+9), shooting a 41 (+5) on the front before ending the round with a 40 (+4) on the back nine. Coming in second on the Raiders’ scorecard was junior Ethan Brown with a 102 (53, 49).
Rounding out the top four scorers for the Raiders were senior Jaxon Mabe with a 104 (55, 49) and sophomore Ayden Mabe, who shot a 107 (54, 53). Senior Mitchell Massey competed in his first round this spring.
Individually for the Lady Raiders, senior Georgia Grace Anderson led the team with a 108, notching a 53 on the front before shooting a 55 on the final nine holes.
Senior Delaney Driggers (60, 60) and junior Jamie Sears (58, 62) both finished the afternoon with scores of 120.
Securing the fourth qualifying score for Richmond’s girls was junior Abigail Tatum, who ended her round with a 124 (62, 62). Also competing Tuesday was senior Angeli Yang with a 125 (62, 63).
“We have one match remaining, the conference championship at Pinehurst No. 1 on Monday,” Parsons closed. “I can’t believe the regular season is over already, it seems as if it only started.
“Hopefully, everyone can soak in our final match and find some enjoyment from it, regardless of the score. And then we will see about any postseason opportunities.”
