SUFFOLK
The wind howled and the flags attached to the pins at each hole were so taut that no discernible wrinkles could be seen. Balls hit well off the tee traveled short distances and approach shots rarely landed near their targeted location. A forgiving course suddenly offered no amnesty during the final round of the Southeastern District at Sleepy Hole on Wednesday.
The blustery conditions wreaked havoc on the 10 teams competing and no one on this day would shoot under par.
“I’ve played in wind before, but nothing like this,” said Hickory golfer John Dawson. “I was just trying to get on the green, hit two putts and get out of there.”
Dawson’s conservative approach worked. He produced a three-over 75, beating Grassfield’s James Fanshaw by one stroke to win the tournament for the second year in a row. Dawson’s solid performance helped the Hawks claim the team title, and on Oct. 6-7 they will head to the Eastern Regional with Grassfield and Western Branch -- the two other qualifiers from the district.
“I think the worse conditions show the better players,” Dawson said.
Dawson was tied with Fanshaw at even par to begin the day, and early on it seemed as if he was going to breeze to victory. Dawson made few mistakes during the first few holes as Fanshaw sputtered. But the tide turned later in the round when the Grassfield senior made a charge on the back nine.
“That’s when I started playing golf,” Fanshaw said.
Fanshaw produced birdies on three of the first four holes after the turn while Dawson began to struggle, carding three consecutive bogeys during one stretch. By No. 18, they were even again.
Dawson saved par on the last hole after he smacked his drive into a fairway bunker, overcoming his initial blunder while skillfully avoiding the treacherous water hazard nestled next to the left side of the green. Fanshaw didn’t fare as well. He produced a bogey when he left a chip shot short and was forced to hit two putts. On a day when the margin for error was miniscule, Fanshaw realized his last mistake was the most costly.
“I wanted to win,” said Fanshaw. “But I didn’t.”
Instead, Dawson was still clinging to his title, and neither Fanshaw nor the wind could wrest it away.
“John’s a special player,” Hickory coach John Holmes. “To block out the distractions and to actually execute each shot is pretty remarkable.”
Team Scores
1. Hickory 309-310 619 2. Grassfield 314-316 630 3. Western Branch 322-326 648 4. Great Bridge 333-322 655 5. King’s Fork 341-337 678 6. Nansemond River 358-358 716 7. Lakeland 367-373 740 8. Indian River 414-389 803 9. Deep Creek 10. 414-413 827 10. Oscar Smith 413-457-870
Individual Scores
Hickory: John Dawson 72-75 147, Jesse Dillon 78-79 157, Lauren Coughlin 81-75 156, Hunter Spencer 87-86 173, Blake Barker 78-81 159, Tod Foshee 81-81 162
Grassfield: James Fanshaw 72-76 148, Brad Kennon 78-77 155, Andrew Farrell 83-80 163, David Decker 81-83 164, Colin McAleer 87-94 181, Tim Epley 86-88 174.
Western Branch: James Baldwin 80-80 160, Taylor DiChiara 80-82 162, Nick Iuliano 80-85 165, Robbie Tiller 87-79 166, Brandon Wharam 82-96 178, Justin Hogg 88-91 179
Other Eastern Region individual qualifiers
Ben Hunter, Lakeland 76-75 151, Stuart Sloat, King’s Fork 77-74 151, Erik Ruse, Great Bridge 77-77 154, Clay Strong, Great Bridge 79-79 158, Kevin Wolfe, Indian River 76-83 161, Travis Johnson, Nansemond River 85-83 168, Austin Saylor, King’s Fork 84-85 169,
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