Shelby's John Waldrop takes a swing at the 2A West regional at Deer Brook.
Jeff Melton / The Star
Shelby's Robert Bullock putts at the 2A West regional at Deer Brook
Jeff Melton / The Star
Golden Lions headed to state match
Boys golf
The Shelby High golf team qualified for the State 2A Tournament next Monday and Tuesday at Pinehurst but not quite the way they had expected.
With Mac Konitzer sidelined by injury the Golden Lions had to depend on their depth to make the top three in the team competition at Monday's 2A West Regional at Deer Brook. West Henderson ran away with the regional team title with a 308 total (top four golfers). East Henderson took second with 321 with Shelby next at 322. Mitchell County and Wilkes Central tied for fourth with 331 totals.
Robert Bullock paced Shelby's effort with a round of 79. Tom Kelly turned in an 80 and William Claytor shot 81. Spencer Jones and Will Meekins both posted 82s.
"I'm really tickled with a third-place finish," Shelby coach Jeff Jones said. "The guys really stepped up with one of our golfers out."
West Henderson's Thomas Payne won medalist with a one-over 73 score. East Henderson's Brandon Craven and West Henderson's Danny Dippel turned in 75s.
Scores were high due to the wind being in the face of the golfers on several difficult holes.
2A West
at Deer Brook Golf Club
Top Individuals
Thomas Payne, West Henderson 73
Branden Craven, East Henderson 75
Danny Dippel, West Henderson 75
Robert Bullock, Shelby 79
Trey Scott, Ashe County 79
Joseph Harris, West Henderson 79
Thomas Buchanan, Mitchell 79
Michael Ayesh, East Henderson 79
Tom Kelly, Shelby 80
Kurt Russell, Forbush 80
Austin Greene, Wilkes Central 80
