Staying close
- Updated: May 13, 2019
Donoho’s LeCroy recovers from a tough green to pull within one of the lead at state golf, team second; White Plains boys third in 4A
By East Alabama Sports Today
PRATTVILLE — As a golfer you never forget your first five-putt and you hope and pray you never have another the rest of your career.
Donoho’s Jacob LeCroy has endured two — both in the state tournament.
He had the second Monday, but it came early enough in the round he was able to recover. The defending medalist birdied his final hole of the day for a 4-over-par 76 that put him one shot off the lead in the Class 1A-2A boys championship on the Senator Course of RTJ-Capitol Hill.
He trails Cody Cleveland of Red Bay, competing as an individual after his team qualified in the substate but had too high a handicap index to play in the state.
Donoho, meanwhile, shot 367 as a team and is six shots off North Sand Mountain’s lead in the three-way team race. Brantley is third after fielding a team with several backups to satisfy the school’s appearances in the 1A-2A golf and 1A baseball finals.
LeCroy’s first five-jack came in the state tournament at Hampton Cove three years ago. This latest one wasn’t one of those slapped-at-without-thinking short putt kind of things. He marked and lined up every one, knocking in a five-footer to finally get off the green.
“You don’t forget five-putts very often,” he said.
If he had just three-putted the third green — as he did the first hole for a bogey — he would’ve had the lead. He was 5-over after three holes but didn’t let it get him down.
“It was embarrassing, but I wasn’t mad,” he said. “It was still good to be out there, to have some fun, to have people watching me.
“I got a confidence boost in mid-round. I didn’t play great, I just had one bad hole. I didn’t play good and I’m one shot back.”
He birdied 5 to get back on track, then parred the next 10 holes before making bogey at 16. He birdied 18 to leave the course with a good feeling.
The Falcons also counted a 78 from Harrison Hughston, 89 from Holden Abernathy and 124 from Bradey Goodson. Hughston is tied for third individually with Cedar Bluff’s Nick Sawyer and Abernathy is tied for eighth.
Donoho coach Garrett Burgess said all the players will have to tighten up their game Tuesday for the Falcons to repeat as state champions.
“The guys are going to have to play like they know how to play and not just throw away a bunch of shots on penalty shots,” Burgess said. “I think it’ll make a real difference tomorrow if they play smart … Our guys are going to have to play better to win.”
White Plains, meanwhile, shot 330 on the Legislator Course and are currently third in the boys 4A tournament, 12 shots behind leader Providence Christian. Brooks is second, one shot off the lead.
Kenny Okins made back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16 and almost chipped in on 17 for three in a row, leading the Wildcats with a 10th-place 80. Gage Miller shot 82 with a birdie at 18, while Andrew Miller and Wesley Jenkins both shot 84. Gavin Burrage had an 85.Providence Christian’s Thomas Ponder grabbed the first-round lead with a 68, the low boys round among all classifications.
“The golf course got us today,” Wildcats coach Chris Randall said. “It’s going to take a heroic effort from every one of the guys, we’ll have to all play the best round we’ve ever played. It’s going to take around 300 to 302 tomorrow to have a chance. There are some big scores to be had out there. We have to make sure we’re not the ones who make them.”
White Plains junior Hanna Dyar is competing as an individual in the girls 4A-5A field and shot 84. Randolph’s Michaela Morard leads at 69, the low girls round of the day.
Glencoe shot 301 as a team and is third in the girls 1A-3A. Lauren Cole posted an 83 and is third.
CLASS 1A-2A BOYS
North Sand Mountain 361
Donoho 367
Brantley 416
Individual Top 10
Cody Cleveland, Red Bay 75
Jacob LeCroy, Donoho 76
Harrison Hughston, Donoho 78
Nick Sawyer, Cedar Bluff 78
Logan Maddox, Marion County 82
Steven Ikner, JU Blackshear 82
Hunter Vest, NSM 86
Holden Abernathy, Donoho 89
Jordan Moon, NSM 89
Charlie Faler, Southeastern 90
Ethan Weed, Brantley 90
CLASS 4A BOYS
Providence Christian 318
Brooks 319
White Plains 330
Fayette County 347
Individual Top 10
Thomas Ponder, Prov. Christian 68
Will Patrick, Oneonta 72
Davis Aaron, Amer. Christian 75
Dax Holland-Weed, Prov. Christian 75
Zach Ashley, Brooks 76
Noah Scott, Fayette County 78
Teagan Miller, Madison Acad. 78
Grant Smith, Montgomery Cath. 79
Paten Junkin, Brooks 79
Kenny Okins, White Plains 80
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