PINEHURST — For the first time this spring, members of the Richmond Senior High School boys’ and girls’ golf teams played a full round at Pinehurst No. 6 on Monday.
In the three previous Sandhills Athletic Conference matches, the Raiders and Lady Raiders played just nine holes.
Returning to No. 6 for the third time this season, a par 72 course designed by Tom Fazio, head coach Keith Parsons said Richmond’s teams adapted well to the change of pace.
Using the top four individual scores, the Lady Raiders placed second out of three teams, shooting a team score of 465. Richmond’s girls posted a mark 28 strokes better than third-place Lumberton High School.
The Raiders remained in the top three teams Monday, shooting a team tally of 386, good enough for third place. Richmond was just four strokes behind second-place Scotland High School, and shot 20 strokes better than Lumberton.
“For our first 18-hole match, I am so pleased with how everyone played,” Parsons said. “We certainly left a few shots out there, and that is OK. For a few members of our group, it was the first time they had walked 18 holes, so it was a new experience. I know we will get better.”
Both of Pinecrest High School’s teams took first overall for the fourth time this season, with the Patriots notching a 282, which was six shots under par as a team. The Lady Patriots finished the round with a team score of 367.
Individually, Richmond was led by seniors Georgia Grace Anderson and Jonathan Rich, who both topped the team’s scorecard for the fourth straight match.
Anderson, who is in her first season with the Lady Raiders, shot a 101. She notched a 50 on the front nine, before ending with a 51 on the final nine holes.
Posting a 79 (+7) was Rich, who impressed with a 37 (+1) on the front nine. That score was tied for third amongst all male golfers on the front, matching Pinecrest’s Zac Shore. On the back nine, Rich shot a 42 (+6) to close his round.
“Individually, I was so happy for Jonathan and Georgia Grace,” Parsons shared. “Both had great rounds, and even though I’m sure they felt as if it could have been better, each of them still was so good. And knowing they still have room for improvement is exciting.”
Through four matches this spring, and five nine-hole rounds, Anderson is averaging a team-best score of 53.4, while Rich is shooting an impressive average of 40.6.
Also competing for the Lady Raiders were junior Abigail Tatum (120), senior Delaney Driggers (121), junior Jamie Sears (123) and senior Angeli Yang (125).
Following Rich for the Raiders were senior Jaxon Mabe (96), junior Ethan Brown (101), sophomore Ayden Mabe (110) and senior Will Thompson (111).
In the Sandhills Athletic Conference standings, the Lady Raiders are second with 25 points, two points ahead of Lumberton. The Raiders are tied for second with Scotland, as each team has earned 24.5 points.
Richmond’s next match also will be at Pinehurst No. 6 on Tuesday, April 20.
