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New Bern golfers end season at regionals
Bears’ Forrest Morton qualifies for state with a 70
SPRING LAKE - The New Bern golf team was forced to send four individuals into Monday's regionals at Anderson Country Club in Spring Lake rather than competing as a team.
Prior to the final Coastal Conference match of the season last week at Carolina Pines, New Bern had a 13-shot advantage over J.H. Rose.
Rose rallied to win the match at Carolina Pines by 15-shots to win the conference by two strokes.
The result allowed Rose to head to the regionals as the 4-A team representing the Coastal Conference.
The Rampants, led by senior Adam Stephenson and freshman Andrew Decker, took second in the regionals with a score of 298.
"(Rose) really came on strong and peaked at the right time of the season," said New Bern coach Dutch Overton. "They played very well. Adam Stephenson and Andrew Decker did a good job of carrying that team down the stretch."
Stephenson tied with Durham Riverside's Jack Garrett as the top medalist with a score of 67. However, Stephenson lost to Garrett in the seventh-playoff hole.
The top three teams qualify for the state championships at Pinehurst Country Club No. 2 on Monday and Tuesday.
Green Hope High School claimed the regional championships with a score of 287, Rose took second and Northern Durham placed third with 301 shots.
The top three individuals, not on a qualifying team, also advance to the state championships.
Forrest Morton fired a two-under par 70, making him the only New Bern golfer to advance to states.
"I am extremely proud of him," Overton said. "He did a really good job and he really earned his place in the state finals. I think he will do well there."
Garrett and Middle Creek's Jack Colley earned a spot to the state meet.
"It was good competition between the individual qualifiers," Overton said. "There were a lot of scores in the 70's today."
New Bern's Ben Heisey scored an even-par 72. Steven Aster scored a three-over par 75 and Dermott McElhennon posted an 83.
"We had a good effort today by our players," Overton said. "Anytime you shoot around par, it is a good score and especially on this course."
As a team, New Bern's season ends with disappointment.
"Steven Aster, today, put up a really good score with a respectable 75, but you could tell after the match, he was disappointed that the season was over," Overton said. "Anytime you don't make it to the state finals it is disappointing. You don't ever want to see it end."
Morton will play a practice round on Sunday at Pinehurst before competing for 18 holes on both Monday and Tuesday.
Adam Thompson can be reached at (252) 635-5670 or at athompson@freedomenc.com.
