FOXFIRE VILLAGE, N.C. – Defending individual champion Courtney Gunter of Indian Trail Porter Ridge won her third consecutive state championship in convincing fashion on Tuesday in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 1A/2A/3A women’s golf championships at the Foxfire Resort and Golf Club.
Gunter, a senior who had won the last two individual championships in this classification, shot a brilliant two-under par 70 in blustery, chilly conditions on the West Course at Foxfire to win the individual crown by 10 shots.
Gunter was tied for first with Lake Norman senior Haley Hammond after Monday’s opening round. But Hammond shot an 81 on Day 2 to fall out of contention for the crown, though she still finished second at 156. Gunter’s 70 on Tuesday was the only sub-par round of the entire tournament.
Junior Laura Chang of Ragsdale and West Henderson sophomore Kayla Sciupider each carded 157 to finish tied for third, 11 shots back.
Blair Lamb of East Henderson is the only other golfer to win three individual state crowns in this classification, winning in 2002-04. Ashley Leonard of Northern Nash won or shared three crowns when the competition was open in 1997-98, including one in the spring of 1997 and then again in the fall, when women’s golf moved to that season.
Defending team champion Cameron Union Pines, which had a 16-shot lead in the team standings over Ragsdale after the first day, held on to clinch the title by 19 shots over Ragsdale, with a score of 517. Western Alamance moved up into third place at 544 with Charlotte Catholic and Southern Lee tied for fourth at 549.
The best three scores of a team counted toward the team totals, and a total of 12 teams and 78 golfers competed in the event, the sixth year that a separate 1A/2A/3A championship has been held.
NCHSAA 1A/2A/3A Final Team Standings
1. Cameron Union Pines 254-263—517
2. Jamestown Ragsdale 270-266—536
3. Western Alamance 276-268—544
4. Charlotte Catholic 273-276—549
4. Southern Lee 274-275—549
6. Salisbury 277-273—550
7. Black Mountain Charles D. Owen276-281—557
8. Pittsboro Northwood 291-270—561
9. Lake Norman 274-293—567
10. Asheville T.C. Roberson 287-284—571
11. Hampstead Topsail 295-280—575
12. Pfafftown Ronald Reagan 294-299—593
NCHSAA 1A/2A/3A Final Individual Leaders
1. Courtney Gunter, Indian Trail Porter Ridge 76-70—146
2. Haley Hammond, Lake Norman 76-80—156
3. Kayla Sciupider, West Henderson 79-78—157
3. Laura Chang, Jamestown Ragsdale 80-77—157
5. Lori Beth Adams, Western Alamance 80-79—159
6. Karli Heimbecker, Southern Lee 81-81—162
7. Coni Fuenzalida, Black Mountain C.D. Owen 81-83—164
7. Jessica Neese, Southeast Guilford 82-82—164
9. Allison Lee, Salisbury 82-84—166
9. Mattie Tobey, East Lincoln 83-83—166
9. Mallory Warrick, Wilson Fike 86-80—166
12. Andrea Robbins, Providence Grove 87-81—168
13. Amanda D’Ostropoh, Cameron Union Pines 84-85—169
14. Jennifer Crow, Havelock 85-85—170
15. Kathryn Rand, Hampstead Topsail 85-86—171
Emrey Rallies to Win 4-A Championship at Pinehurst
Allison Emrey of Charlotte Ardrey Kell captured top individual honors on Tuesday in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A women’s golf championships at Pinehurst Number One.
Emrey began the day in fourth place just one shot out of the lead, but handled the chilly, windy conditions well enough to shoot a two-over 75 for a 36-hole score of 151, five-over par, edging out a trio of golfers who finished one shot back.
Courtney Taylor of Gastonia Ashbrook, Courtney McKim of Raleigh Wakefield and Clayton’s Lizzie Bundy each carded 152 totals on the 5,713-yard layout. McKim was the defending individual champion while Taylor finished in a tie for second a year ago, five strokes behind McKim.
Led by Katherine Perry, Raleigh Athens Drive overcame a five-shot deficit after Monday’s play to win the team title, overtaking first-day leader Greensboro Grimsley. Athens Drive had a 511 to 515 for Grimsley and for defending team champ Northwest Guilford, which tied for second. New Bern placed fourth at 521.
The best three scores of a team counted toward the team totals, and a total of 78 golfers and 14 teams competed in the two-day, 36-hole event.
Wendy’s serves as the presenting sponsor of the NCHSAA sports program.
NCHSAA 4-A Final Team Standings
1. Raleigh Athens Drive 256-255—511
2. Greensboro Grimsley 251-264—515
2. Northwest Guilford 262-253—515
4. New Bern 260-261—521
5. Southern Pines Pinecrest 260-264—524
6. Wake Forest-Rolesville 262-266—528
7. Charlotte Ardrey Kell 274-260—534
8. North Mecklenburg 269-276—545
9. Raleigh Wakefield 280-274—554
10. Charlotte Myers Park 281-278—559
11. Chapel Hill 288-277—565
12. Raleigh Broughton 279-291—570
13. Matthews David Butler 286-288—574
14. Morrisville Green Hope 295-292—587
NCHSAA 4-A Final Individual Leaders
1. Allison Emrey, Charlotte Ardrey Kell 76-75—151
2. Courtney McKim, Raleigh Wakefield 75-77—152
2. Courtney Taylor, Gastonia Ashbrook 75-77—152
2. Lizzie Bundy, Clayton 77-75—152
5. Tatum Briele, New Bern 78-75—153
6. Katie Kirk, North Mecklenburg 75-80—155
6. Jessica Hook, Wilmington Ashley 77-78—155
8. Shannon Prunty, Northwest Guilford 78-78—156
8. Katherine Perry, Raleigh Athens Drive 78-78—156
10. Clare Fisher, Asheville A.C. Reynolds 80-77—157
11. Brianna Clemmons, Northwest Guilford 82-76—158
12. Michelle Ahn, Chapel Hill 83-76—159
13. Shauna Walor, Wake Forest-Rolesville 81-80—161
14. Courtney Rousse, Apex Middle Creek 81-83—164
14. Molly Plomaritis, Greensboro Grimsley 79-85—164
