by Chris Hunt

After a long, arduous season on the links, several local golfers advanced past regional competition to play in the state finals, held May 9-10.

Lake Norman Charter’s golf team finished fourth in the class 1A tournament in the 12-team field with a score of 674 at the 14th-annual N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A State Golf Championships at Keith Hills Country Club in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The Knights’ Sean Murphy paced the team with a first-round 82 and a final-round 76, good enough for a 158 overall score and a 13th-place finish out of 84 competitors. Ben Cattoni fired a 169 for the Knights, while Jake Blum and David Shaw both carded a 175.

Ross Goldbrum and Gib Baker also competed for the Knights, who were fifth as a team after the first day but leap-frogged Swain County on the final day to claim fourth. Kernersville Bishop McGuiness won the tournament with a 598. Bishop McGuiness golfer Stanhope Johnson (145) took home top individual honors.

At the class 4A tournament at Pinehurst No. 6, Hough golfer David Sargent finished with a two-day score of 149, and was ranked in a three-way tie for 21st. Sargent was the sole qualifier for Lake Norman-area golfers in the 4A tournament.