PINEHURST — Kevin Tabacolde, Richmond Senior High School’s lone golfer to compete in the postseason this spring, didn’t let an injury or a rough start dampen his spirit or his competitive drive.
The sophomore golfer returned to the NCHSAA 4A Mideast regional tournament for the second consecutive season, playing a round at Pinehurst No. 6 Monday.
Facing golfers from the All-American, DC 6, Sandhills Athletic, Southwest Wake and United 8 conferences, Tabacolde turned out some of his best shots and scores of the season.
Starting on No. 10 and playing the back nine holes of the Tom and George Fazio designed course first, Tabacolde shot an 86.
He began the day with a 45 (+9) on the back half of the course before rallying with a 41 (+5) on the front nine. The 41 was Tabacolde’s lowest nine-hole score on any course this season.
With his final posting of an 86 (+14), Tabacolde tied his personal low-round score of the season. He also shot an 86 at the Country Club of Whispering Pines.
Finishing the day as the leader of his group, Tabacolde was nine strokes short of qualifying for the NCHSAA 4A state championship event. His final ranking had him tied for 48th in the tournament.
“It felt really good that I made regionals and represented Richmond for the second time,” Tabacolde shared. “I was really impressed with how I played with my injured arm and I was impressed with my comeback on the second nine after a terrible first nine.
“And what was more impressive was on the last hole, I pulled off a 20-footer for a bogey after hitting my third shot from the bunker over the green,” he added.
“This event really showed me what I’m capable of doing. That day I thought I would have shot 95 because I had a bad arm, but I was able to play through it and got a better score.”
Through his opening five holes, Nos. 10-14, Tabacolde found himself nine shots over par. But a birdie on No. 15, a 490-yard par five, led to pars on two of his next three holes going into the turn.
Tabacolde parred Nos. 2 and 3 and sank his second birdie of the round on No. 4, a 379-yard par four, to start the second half of play. In two of his final five holes, Nos. 5 and 7, he shot even par.
“Kevin started on (hole) 10 and had some struggles,” Chad McCurry, Richmond’s assistant coach, said. “He was able to turn his round around by making a birdie on 15. He found his swing and had great distance control with his irons.
“Around the greens he was excellent, chipping close on many holes and saving par,” he continued. “Kevin ended the day with an unfortunate triple-bogey on 8 when he pulled his tee shot out of bounds and bogeyed a tough ninth hole to end the day.”
Winning the individual 4A Mideast regional title was Carson Bertagnole of Pinecrest High School, who shot a 66 (-6). That was one stroke better than teammate Pete Myers in second place.
As a team, the Patriots shot 12-under par to win the regional championship.
