Auburn and George Wythe have been tops in Class 1 Region C golf for the past four years, and Tuesday, the two schools battled it out for another regional title with GW taking a 24-stroke win.
Auburn’s Carter Vance did claim the individual title to lead the defending champs back to the state tournament.
George Wythe shot a team total 302 at the Pete Dye River Course in Fairlawn, with Auburn in tow at 323. Vance shot a 71, edging out GW’s Channing Blevins for individual honors. Vance is the defending Class 1 state champion. Covington finished third with a team total of 414.
Auburn Coach Jeff Gandee said Vance played well at the River Course.
Auburn’s Carter Vance studies his line during the Region 1C tournament at the River Course.
“He has played that course many times, so he knew the course very well which helps. He played solid for 18 holes and kept his composer the whole day. There will be a lot of good players at the state tournament, but if he can control his emotions, he has the best shot of any to repeat as state champion once again,” he said.
As a team, Jontzen Gore shot at 72 for Auburn with Slater Linkous (89), Reed Underwood (91) and Austin Kirtner (93) in tow.
Gandee said the team’s goal going into regions was to advance to the state tournament once again. “I was very proud on how Carter Vance and Jentzen Gore played, but my other guys struggled to put both 9’s together. I was hoping we would’ve scored a little better as a team, but we accomplished our goal,” he said.
Both teams advance to state play Monday at Lonesome Pine Country Club in Big Stone Gap. Last season, only the regional champ moved on to the state tournament. A change in Virginia High School League rules allowed both to advance this season.
Gandee knows defending that title will be tough with the full slate of GW golfers making the trek this time around.
“It will take a miracle for us to repeat again this year. George Wythe is so deep and have at least five players if not all six players that can break 80. We will have to play the best we have ever played and they will have to struggle to even give us a slight chance. It’s a one-day tournament, so anything can happen,” he said.
Eastern Montgomery’s Haley Howard deftly chips onto the 11th green out of a sand trap at the River Course. Howard scored a 91 in the Region 1C tournament on Tuesday.
Eastern Montgomery’s Haley Howard finished with a 91 on the Par 72 Pete Dye River Course.
