High winds equal high scores at Heritage Invitational

By Ted Allen

Published: August 11, 2008

FOREST — High winds at London Downs Golf Club’s fairly tight course resulted in high scores for Monday’s 14th annual Heritage Invitational.

“The wind was terrible today,” said Amherst senior Colton King, who placed fourth individually with a 41-36—77. “On the front nine, it was gusting big-time.”

Salem, which set the tournament team record at 287 in 2006, finished runner-up for the fourth time in the past five years by shooting a 323 total, five strokes behind team champion Western Albemarle (318).

All seven Seminole District schools and E.C. Glass, which will join the Seminole next fall, competed in the 22-team field, reduced from 24 when Dogwood District regulars such as Appomattox were forced to withdraw.

Liberty, which returned its top five players from last fall, had the local highest finish — placing in a three-way tie for fifth at 333, higher than Minutemen coach Mark Petersen expected.

“They all took a couple of big numbers out there,” Petersen said. “That just kills you.”

Glass, led by Zach Scharf’s 37-43—80, came in ninth as a team at 338, followed by Amherst (11th, 339), Jefferson Forest (13th, 342), paced by Sam Dailey’s 44-36—80, and Rustburg (351), which rounded out the top 15.

Brandon Grogan of Magna Vista was the tournament medalist after shooting a 37-38—75, followed by Western Albemarle’s Landon Weis (38-38—76). Three of the top five individuals were from area teams, including Liberty’s Beckham Stanley (third, 39-37—76), King and Rustburg’s Chad Wisecarver (fifth, 39-38—77).

Wisecarver, who played primarily baseball this summer on Rustburg’s NABF team, returned last week from Wilmington, N.C., where he played a total of 90 holes of golf. That included a practice round with Coastal Carolina University’s team, which he hopes to join next fall.

He spent 45 minutes before the start of Monday’s tournament adjusting to the drier conditions at London Downs caused by this summer’s drought.

“Playing at the beach, everything was plush,” he said. “The greens here were a different type of grass. I took some time practicing on the putting green and the driving range to make the transition.

“It was tough putting conditions,” he added. “Everything was faster, so you had to play it safe, play it smart and keep the ball under control. With the wind and the tight fairways, shooting in the mid-70s was pretty good. My main focus was getting on (the green) and two-putting.”

He fought through the wind by driving the ball low off the tee.

“I tried to keep the ball out of the air with a low trajectory to take the wind out of the play as much as possible,” Wisecarver said.

The strategy was effective in keeping the ball inbounds.

“I played the whole round with one ball,” he said.

King was especially sharp with his putter, making a 30-foot bogey putt on No. 14 and a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 17. On the Par 3 No. 11, he hit a 7-iron to within a foot of the hole to set up another birdie.

Brookville placed 16th as a team with its 353, led by Jeremy Campbell’s 46-36—82. Tournament host Heritage was the only school that didn’t have enough players to field a complete team.

Dogwood teams open play today

With all 12 of its playing dates taken up by a regular-season double round robin of nine-hole matches this season, the Dogwood District teams that usually participate in the Heritage Invitational were unable to do so Monday.

“We hate to miss it (but) all good things have to come to an end,” said Appomattox coach Doug Marshall, whose team will not be able to host its own tournament at Falling River for the 14th time this season. “That tournament was used as one of the Dogwood mini tournaments. It was fun. We enjoyed it.”

The schedule change was made after a vote by district principals and athletic directors in part to reduce travel costs.

Nelson County, which had its first day of school Monday, also had to quit hosting the Wintergreen Invitational as it has for the past 25 years.

Next year, Appomattox will be on that early school start schedule as well.