Dublin course challenges golfers
By Diana Royal dianar@thetruecitizen.com

Carly Saxon tees off at the Waynesboro Country Club on Monday. Staff - Diana Royal

Edmund Burke's golf team upped its record to 25-14, and their coach says he's pleased with their consistent improvement.

Last Monday, the Spartans finished sixth out of 17 teams competing in the Trinity Invitational in Dublin. Coach Mike Smith said the team did well, considering the difficulty they seem to consistently have at the course.

Low shooter for the Spartans was Bernie Smith with 74. Matthew Rocker shot 79; Jeremy Hayes, 80; and Jim Hopkins, 85.

On Thursday, they were host for Pinewood at the Waynesboro Country Club (WCC), defeating the Patriots with an overall day of 314 to 325. B. Smith was again the low shooter, with 73, followed by Hayes, 75; Rocker, 76; and Hopkins, 90.

Smith said that while members of the girls team have been competing against each other, two of their players may give the boys some tough competition.

Carly Saxon and Katie Atkinson played all 18 holes this past Monday, when the Spartans competed against Thomas Jefferson and Brentwood at the WCC. The pair is vying for the fifth spot on the boys team, a position that Smith said could easily go to one of them. "I have been pleasantly surprised by the progress being made by these girls," Smith said, adding that he was encouraged as well this week by Hopkins' 85 on the course. "If we can continue to get him down a shot or two each week, we have a really good chance at doing something good in the region."

The four-man team anchored by B. Smith defeated TJ and Brentwood 314 to 332 and 356, respectively. In addition to Hopkins' 85 for the day, B. Smith shot 72; Rocker, 78; Hayes, 79.

The girls will continue to qualify this week as they play full-course games, Smith said. Saxon's lowest average for the season stands at 52, while Atkinson is close behind at 54, and Brooke Hargrove, 56.