ROCKINGHAM — Three golfers from Richmond Senior High School punched their ticket to the postseason this week.
Playing a final non-conference match to try and better their averages, senior Kevin Cosey and juniors Graham Odom and CJ Turner are all headed to regionals.
Finishing in the top 33 golfers in the 7A classification for their region, the trio of Raiders will make the return trip to the 7A Central regional tournament.
Cosey is in the postseason for the fourth time in his career, while Odom and Turner are heading back for the second straight season.
Golfers qualified for the 7A Central playoffs based on their iWanamaker statistic, a composite score of all their rounds played this season.
Leading the Raiders and ranked as the No. 11 golfer in the region was Cosey, who posted a ranking of 1.973.
Turner was next and ranked No. 13 with a score of 2.101, followed by Odom as the No. 16 golfer in the region. Odom’s composite score was 2.67.
The 7A Central’s three team qualifiers were Reynolds, Grimsley and Page high schools.
Just missing the cut for what would have been his first regionals appearance was junior Grayson Robson. He finished the season as the 7A Central’s 36th-ranked golfer, three spots away from the cutline.
“I really wanted all four to get in, but definitely happy for our three guys who did,” head coach Chris Turner said. “We need to play more matches next year to give them a better shot at qualifying.
“I learned a lot this year, and I hope they did as well. I hope these guys can do something in regionals. They have the ability and it will be exciting to see.”
Of Robson, Coach Turner said he was above the cutline until the final few schools submitted scores this week.
In Tuesday’s non-conference match, Richmond’s final competition ahead of regionals, the team shot a 164 on nine holes at Red Bridge Golf Club. That put the Raiders second between Metrolina Christian Academy (154) and Gray Stone Day School (179).
CJ Turner led the team with a 38 (+2), followed by Cosey and Odom. They shot matching scores of 42 (+6).
Also posting a round score of 42 were Robson and senior Tyler McKenzie. Sophomore Drake Wallace ended his nine holes with a 44 (+8).
The NCHSAA 7A Central regional tournament will be held May 5 at Starmount Forest Country Club in Greensboro.
Turner is the No. 1 seed in his grouping (1:40 p.m.), Cosey is the No. 2 seed (1:50 p.m.) and Odom is the No. 3 seed in his foursome (2 p.m.).
