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Plenty of drive for Forestview, Highland Tech
Jaguars, Rams vie for prep golf titles at two-day event
One stroke was all Forestview needed to shave off of its score last year. One measly stroke and the 3A state golf championship would have belonged to the Jaguars.
They get another chance starting today when they compete in the 3A state golf championships at Foxfire Village near Pinehurst. The 36-hole event will conclude with the final round Tuesday.
South Point's Alex Cauble will also be there after qualifying as an individual.
Meanwhile, Highland Tech will vie for the 1A state championship today and Tuesday at Keith Hills Country Club in Buies Creek. Cherryville's Drew Eaker will compete in the 1A championships as an individual.
North Lincoln's Russ Piercy will be the lone area participant in the 2A state championships to be held at Longleaf Golf and Country Club in Southern Pines.
Forestview tied Hickory for the 3A championship last year at Foxfire but lost the fifth-score tiebreaker and went home with the runner-up plaque. A team's top four scores account for the team total. Forestview led Hickory by six strokes through the first round.
The Jaguars are coming off a stellar round in which their top four golfers averaged 73 to win the 3A West Regional last week at Asheville Municipal.
"I'm excited, ready to play," senior Harold Varner said after the regional. "I think we're better than we were last year. We showed it (last week) by shooting 292."
Varner, who will play at East Carolina next season, shot a 4-under 68 last week to earn 3A West Regional medalist honors. Taylor Dickson, Phillip Boheler and James Chapman rounded out the Jaguars' top four. Garrett Haney and Thomas Chapman will also play in the state championships.
Varner tied for second at the state match last year, shooting 1-over for the two-day tournament. He won the sudden-death playoff.
South Point's Cauble finished eighth.
Highland Tech is coming off a second-place finish at the 1A West Regional at Ridges Resort in Hayesville. The Rams scored 336 - an average of 84 per golfer - to finish nine strokes behind team champion Polk County.
Greg Bunner led the Rams with a 5-over 75. Other Highland Tech members include Weston McCurry, Bobby Stover, Braydan Hawkins, Zack Beaver and Houston McCurry.
Eaker placed second at the regional with a 4-over 74.
All four state championships will be played simultaneously at four different sites today and Tuesday. Tee times begin at 8 a.m. each day.
You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.
NCHSAA golf championships
Local tee times
Class 3A
8 a.m. - Alex Cauble, South Point
8:20 - Harold Varner, Forestview
8:30 - Taylor Dickson, Forestview
8:40 - Phillip Boheler, Forestview
8:50 - James Chapman, Forestview
9:00 - Garrett Haney, Forestview
9:10 - Thomas Chapman, Forestview
Class 2A
8 a.m. - Russ Piercy, North Lincoln
Class 1A
8 a.m. - Drew Eaker, Cherryville
8:20 - Greg Bunner, Highland Tech
8:30 - Weston McCurry, Highland Tech
8:40 - Bobby Stover, Highland Tech
8:50 - Braydan Hawkins, Highland Tech
9 - Zack Beaver, Highland Tech
9:10 - Houston McCurry, Highland Tech
