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Clark junior Blake Cartwight fires off a tee shot on No. 13 during the boys 9th Region golf tournament Wednesday at Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington. (Keith Taylor/ktaylor@winchestersun.com / September 27, 2012) |
LEXINGTON — A one-day delay and a soft course proved to be too much of an obstacle for the George Rogers Clark boys golf team to overcome in the 9th Region Tournament Wednesday at Kearney Hill Golf Links.
The tournament was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but inclement weather postponed the event, with most golfers playing just two holes before officials canceled the remainder of the round and rescheduled it for the following day. Lightning in the area led to another delay for a brief period Wednesday, but once play resumed, all 18 teams completed their rounds.
Clark finished seventh overall with a 326, while Madison¿Central fired a 299 and captured its second consecutive title with a five-stroke win over runner-up Lexington Catholic, which had a 304.
Both teams, along with individuals Billy Tom Sargent (Scott County), Gresham Wilson (Lexington Christian) and Chandler Morgan of Tates Creek, advance to next week’s state tournament set for Oct. 5-6 at the Bowling Green Country Club.
Clark coach Kevin Cope said the weather conditions and one-day delay played a role in his team’s performance.
“It was tough for our guys,” the first-year Clark coach said, adding that the brief delay Wednesday “killed our momentum. Cope also was “a little disappointed” in his team’s final tally.
“I felt we could do better,” he said. “All my guys wanted to do better and we could have shot a few strokes better, but it happens when you get into a one-day tournament like this.”
Clark was led by junior Blake Cartwright, who carded an 80. Cartwright finished with a 38 on the first nine holes, but had a 42 on the back nine for his final tally. Cartwright had a 74 in last year’s event at Gibson Bay Golf Course in Richmond and missed the final cut by two strokes. Cartwright said the one-day delay was “tough.”
“The course was playing really hard, with it being wet and everything,” he said. “It was playing 6,900 yards and with it being wet, it was probably close to 7,200 yards total. It was long and tough. I just didn’t play my best and it showed with my score. I had a tough time reading the putts today.”
Ross Todd, the Cardinals’ lone senior, followed Cartwright with an 81 in his final appearance in the tournament. Todd ended his prep career by making four straight regional tournament appearances. Todd had a 40 on the first nine holes and recorded a 41 on the back nine to conclude his prep career. Todd added that he “didn’t hit the ball real well” and got it “into his head”¿during most of the outing.
“I tried to clear it out of my mind and take it one hole at a time,” he said. “It was tough knowing that today was my last day. It was hard, just knowing that it’s all over with but I’m not going to let today bother me. I’ve made a lot of memories and met a lot of good people. We’ve won a lot of tournaments and it’s been real fun.”
Jacob Omohundro finished with an 83 in his second appearance in the one-day event. Omohundro had a 92 in the tourney a year ago and improved his showing by nine strokes. Matthew Omohundro, who also played in last year’s event, followed his brother with an 85. Both are juniors and will return next season.
Sophomore Hunter Rowe rounded out Clark’s five-man roster and made his debut in the regional outing with a 90. Rowe played two holes Tuesday and was 2-over and maintained a steady pace throughout the round.
“I shot about the same (Wednesday) as I was shooting (Tuesday),” he said. “The course played real long and because the of rain, there were no rolls on drives or anything.”
The Cards return a strong nucleus from this year’s team, with Rowe, Cartwright, along with Jacob and Matthew Omohundro among the returnees looking to make a run for the title next fall.
“We’re looking foward to next year, but this one will hurt for a little while,” Cope said.
The tournament was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but inclement weather postponed the event, with most golfers playing just two holes before officials canceled the remainder of the round and rescheduled it for the following day. Lightning in the area led to another delay for a brief period Wednesday, but once play resumed, all 18 teams completed their rounds.
Clark finished seventh overall with a 326, while Madison¿Central fired a 299 and captured its second consecutive title with a five-stroke win over runner-up Lexington Catholic, which had a 304.
Both teams, along with individuals Billy Tom Sargent (Scott County), Gresham Wilson (Lexington Christian) and Chandler Morgan of Tates Creek, advance to next week’s state tournament set for Oct. 5-6 at the Bowling Green Country Club.
Clark coach Kevin Cope said the weather conditions and one-day delay played a role in his team’s performance.
“It was tough for our guys,” the first-year Clark coach said, adding that the brief delay Wednesday “killed our momentum. Cope also was “a little disappointed” in his team’s final tally.
“I felt we could do better,” he said. “All my guys wanted to do better and we could have shot a few strokes better, but it happens when you get into a one-day tournament like this.”
Clark was led by junior Blake Cartwright, who carded an 80. Cartwright finished with a 38 on the first nine holes, but had a 42 on the back nine for his final tally. Cartwright had a 74 in last year’s event at Gibson Bay Golf Course in Richmond and missed the final cut by two strokes. Cartwright said the one-day delay was “tough.”
“The course was playing really hard, with it being wet and everything,” he said. “It was playing 6,900 yards and with it being wet, it was probably close to 7,200 yards total. It was long and tough. I just didn’t play my best and it showed with my score. I had a tough time reading the putts today.”
Ross Todd, the Cardinals’ lone senior, followed Cartwright with an 81 in his final appearance in the tournament. Todd ended his prep career by making four straight regional tournament appearances. Todd had a 40 on the first nine holes and recorded a 41 on the back nine to conclude his prep career. Todd added that he “didn’t hit the ball real well” and got it “into his head”¿during most of the outing.
“I tried to clear it out of my mind and take it one hole at a time,” he said. “It was tough knowing that today was my last day. It was hard, just knowing that it’s all over with but I’m not going to let today bother me. I’ve made a lot of memories and met a lot of good people. We’ve won a lot of tournaments and it’s been real fun.”
Jacob Omohundro finished with an 83 in his second appearance in the one-day event. Omohundro had a 92 in the tourney a year ago and improved his showing by nine strokes. Matthew Omohundro, who also played in last year’s event, followed his brother with an 85. Both are juniors and will return next season.
Sophomore Hunter Rowe rounded out Clark’s five-man roster and made his debut in the regional outing with a 90. Rowe played two holes Tuesday and was 2-over and maintained a steady pace throughout the round.
“I shot about the same (Wednesday) as I was shooting (Tuesday),” he said. “The course played real long and because the of rain, there were no rolls on drives or anything.”
The Cards return a strong nucleus from this year’s team, with Rowe, Cartwright, along with Jacob and Matthew Omohundro among the returnees looking to make a run for the title next fall.
“We’re looking foward to next year, but this one will hurt for a little while,” Cope said.
