Three of the top four New Hanover players scored in the upper 70s on Monday to guide the Wildcats to an impressive 13-shot victory to claim the 2016 Mideastern Conference Tournament Championship in Leland.
Junior Jackson Tyler out-dueled Laney’s Jackson Young in a playoff hole to give New Hanover a clean sweep of this year’s event as individual winner.
Playing in picturesque conditions with low humidity, temperatures in the mid-70s and a light breeze throughout the afternoon, both competitors closed out the Camellia and Azalea nine holes at Magnolia Greens tied with a five-over-par 77.
Tyler was closest to the pin after the approach and sank his birdie putt to top off an impressive regular season within the seven-team league. The junior had an up-and-down day, but responded late in the afternoon. He had a tap-in birdie just before the turn, while teammate Bradley Mickle was one stroke back at six-over. Brantley Moore also posted a 79 on the par 72, 6,280-yard layout.
The Wildcats will join Hoggard in the 4A Regional after the Vikings qualified for next week’s tournament following a strong spring within the division. Alongside Tyler and Young in one of the lead foursomes, Nick Orsa finished tied for third on the individual leader board to pace Hoggard.
The lead group teed off on the par four, 391-yard third hole on the Camellia nine. Young had a great par save after finding himself in the right side bunker on the 416-yard fifth. Orsa also made birdie on a par-five and West Brunswick’s Tucker Vaughn stuck a 145-yard iron shot to score birdie early in the day.
Young, Cole McCarthy and senior Michael Jones will represent Laney at Pinehurst, with Wes VanAlstein earning a spot in regional play for Ashley.
West Brunswick heads to this year’s 3A regional because of consistent play up and down the score card. Landon Patterson hit 82 on Monday, with Vaughn, Spencer Fairlcoth and Austin Aycock hitting 84. The combined 334 team score was good for a second-place finish for the Trojans in the conference championship.
Xavier Williams for South Brunswick will also compete in the regional as an individual in addition to three players from Topsail.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 4A East Regional will be played on Pinehurst No. 6 beginning on May, 2. The NCHSAA 3A East Regional will be held at Reedy Greek Golf Course in Four Oaks.
MIDEASTERN 3A/4A GOLF
Magnolia Greens CC par 72, 6,280 yards
TEAM SCORES
- N Hanover 321
- W Brunswick 334
- Laney 342
- Topsail 349
- Hoggard 350
- Ashley 372
- SBrunswick 379
New Hanover: Jackson Tyler- Co-Medalist 77, B Mickle 78, B Moore 79, W Martin 87
W Brumswick: L Patterson 82, T Vaughan 84, S Faircloth 84, A Aycock 84
Laney: Jackson Young- Co-Medalist 77, M Jones 81, C McCarthy 85, K Lane 99
Topsail: S Crowell 82, M Johnson 85, B Holmes 89, H Weirse 93
Hoggard: N Orsa 79, J Schenk 85, C Shepard 88, W Steyskal 98
Ashley: W VanAlstein 83, B Hudson 87, H Coniglio 99, E Brown 103
S Brunswick: X Williams 89, R Hawke 94, H Disbrow 96, M Hardison 100
