Golf team battling for state title
May 13, 2010
Filed under Golf, Top Stories
Coach Danny Leatherman talks to Will Griffin after round one of the state golf tournament.
When the boys golf team started the trek to the state tournament and dominated district and regionals, they didn’t look back. And after a not-so-impressive second nine on the first day of the state tournament, they probably shouldn’t.
The team , which started on No. 10, was in the lead at the turn. But that was before the sixth hole–a 316-yard par 4.
“Number six killed us,” Coach Danny Leatherman said. “It’s the easiest hole on the course and we shot two double bogeys and a triple bogey. They should have shot a 295 and really could have if we had played six differently.”
But that was today. And the team’s objective hasn’t changed.
“Right now, our goal is the same as it was when we started,” Leatherman said. “And that is to get on the podium tomorrow.”
What the Pack has to overcome is some physical issues, according to Leatherman.
“Josh (Lewis) and Tyler (Dunbar) have strep throat,” he said. “Right now they are getting cleaned up to eat and get some rest.”
Lewis, a sophomore, recorded two over par after nine. But with bogeys at 1, 2, and 4 capped with a triple on the last hole, he ended the first day at +8.
Dunbar, the lone freshman on the team, was four over at the turn and recorded one of the double bogeys on No. 6. His lone birdie came on No. 2, a 155-yard par 3.
But the most obvious physical challenge left evidence on junior Michael Phillips’ scorecard.
“He had a problem with his eyes after number three and had to take his contacts out,” Leatherman said. ‘If you look at his scorecard, he had a hard time, especially on the back nine.”
The junior’s card shows bogeys on three, four and five with a double on six.
“It affects his putting and everything,” Leatherman said. “He is going to a clinic tonight. He might have a scratched cornea.”
The team will have an 8:30 a.m. tee time Friday, according to Leatherman.
“This is good because they can get out and get a good start before the wind picks up,” he said. “We need to record a good score and let the other teams chase it.”
Lufkin is in sixth place with a 304, 16 strokes behind Austin Westlake.
Sam Fidone shot the best round for Lufkin with a one over 73 followed by Will Griffin with a 74. The other three teammates were not far behind with Phillips at 78, Dunbar at 79 and Lewis at 80.
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