THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 17, 1996 TAG: 9610170542
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 50 lines
Talk about turning things around.
After shooting its worst round of the season - a 335 - Tuesday at the tough Williamsburg Country Club, the Cox golf team bounced back with a 303 to crush the 13-team field and win its sixth straight Eastern Region championship Wednesday at Sleepy Hole.
The Falcons were in third place and eight shots out of the lead heading into Wednesday's second round, but finished with a nine-stroke lead over runner-up Salem 638-647.
Both teams advance to Monday's opening round of the Group AAA tournament at Richmond's Hermitage Country Club.
Salem was led by Kevin Miller, who held onto his four-stroke lead to capture medalist honors after finishing second last year.
Miller shot a par-72 at the Williamsburg course and carded a 3-over 75 at Sleepy Hole to beat the Falcons' Ryan Garland 147-154.
``I'm playing close to my best golf,'' said Miller, who finished third in the state as a freshman three years ago. ``I know where the ball is going.''
So did the Cox team on Wednesday.
``I guess we made up a multitude of strokes out here today. Told you,'' said coach Stuart Holland, who spoke confidently about the Falcons' chances after Tuesday's poor round. ``I'm thrilled.''
Cox has finished second in the state four out of the last five years, winning the region title each year.
``But we would have taken second, which still would have gotten us to state,'' Holland said. ``In fact, I was wondering if second wouldn't have been better so maybe we could win state this time around.
Salem will be making its first trip to the Group AAA tournament. The Sun Devils edged Peninsula champion Lafayette by six strokes for the region's second berth. Lafayette was in second after the first round.
Lafayette's Jason Noah and Gloucester's Mike Little were in position to beat Miller for medalist honors. But Little scored a 77 for a two-day total of 155, while Noah suffered through an 81 to total 157.
But both Peninsula golfers still qualified for state play as individuals, along with Gary Crutcher of Granby, Brian Richards of Kempsville, Adam Nielsen of Kellam and Jeremiah Johnson of Gloucester. ILLUSTRATION: LAWRENCE JACKSON, The Virginian-Pilot
Salem's Kevin Miller shot a 75 Wednesday at Sleepy Hole. He won
medalist honors by seven strokes over Cox's Ryan Garland. Miller
will have his teammates with him at the state tourney at the
Hermitage Country Club in Richmond. The Sun Devils topped Lafayette
by six shots for the second region berth. by CNB