3-A NCHSAA GOLF
ASHEVILLE’S RATNER LEADS FIELD IN NCHSAA 3-A GOLF;
FIKE PACES HICKORY, WILLIAMS IN TEAM STANDINGS
BUIES CREEK — Asheville’s Noah Ratner fired a three-under par 69 to hold a one-shot lead over the field after Monday’s first day of play in the 24th annual North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A men’s golf championships at the Keith Hills Country Club.
The championship is being held on a par-72, 6500-yard layout for the NCHSAA event.
Ratner has a one-stroke advantage over a trio of golfers, including Robert Hoadley of Cameron Union Pines, the 2007 champ; James Chapman of Gastonia Forestview, and Ryan Yarborough of Wilson Fike, all of whom played in challenging, chilly, wet conditions.
Robert Register of Williams, last year’s individual champ, and Hickory’s J.T. Poston are two shots back in the individual standings, each with one-under 71.
The team title is also up for grabs with three teams scoring under 300 on the opening day. Defending champ Wilson Fike leads the way with a 296, two shots ahead of Hickory and three strokes ahead of Burlington Williams. Gastonia Forestview is fourth, five shots off the pace at 301.
The best four of six individual scores count toward the team total.
Prior to 1986, all NCHSAA schools competed for a single title in an open tournament. Play went to three classifications in 1986 and then to four classes beginning with the 1998 tournaments.
A total of 84 golfers began play in the two-day event. Action will resume at eight o’clock on Tuesday morning.
Wendy’s is the presenting sponsor of the NCHSAA sports program.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2009 MEN’S 3-A GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Keith Hills Country Club, Buies Creek
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Wilson Fike 296
2. Hickory 298
3. Burlington Williams 299
4. Gastonia Forestview 301
5. Southern Lee 310
Southeast Guilford 310
7. Indian Trail Porter Ridge 311
8. Eden Morehead 314
Charlotte Catholic 314
10. Lake Norman 321
11. Northern Nash 326
12. Wilson Hunt 332
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS—par 72
1. Noah Ratner, Asheville 69
2. Robert Hoadley, Union Pines 70
James Chapman, Forestview 70
Ryan Yarborough, Wilson Fike 70
5. J.T. Poston, Hickory 71
Robert Register, Burlington Williams 71
7. Alan Barnhardt, Pfafftown Reagan 72
8. Christian Hawley, Kernersville Glenn 73
Jack Radley, Southern Lee 73
Blake Cigona, Southern Lee 73
Ryan Pencek, Porter Ridge 73
Trey White, Hickory 73
Daniel Claytor, Northern Nash 73
