PINEHURST — Gillian Kitchings of Chatham Central and Lily Jordan of Northwood competed at the 2019 NCHSAA Woment’s Golf State Championships last Monday and Tuesday in Pinehurst.
Kitchings closed tied for 52nd overall in the 1A/2A classification after firings rounds of 92 and 104 to close the event with a 196 on the 5,215-yard layout at Longleaf Golf and Family Club.
First Flight junior Katherine Schuster won her third consecutive 1A/2A State Championship as she fired a 1-under, 71, on the final round to march to an eight-shot win over Katelyn Griggs from Gray Stone Day. Schuster cruised through, carding four birdies in her final round, including three on the final nine.
After finishing day one in a tie with Mount Pleasant for the team lead, Oak Grove got an excellent round from Karli Jump, who fired a 6-over, 78 to lead the team, as she finished at 22-over, 166, for the tournament in a tie for 11th. Emma Maddock contributed an 85 for her final round and Ashley Longbottom rounded out the team’s day 2 total with an 86. The group helped Oak Grove nab their first State Championship in school history.
In 3A, Jordan carded a 194 after rounds of 106 and 88 to finished tied for 55th overall at Foxfire Resort and Golf Course’s Red Fox Course.
Cox Mill’s Elizabeth Lohbauer ran away from the field in the final round, posting a 2-under, 70, to finish with a 1-under, 143 total. Lohbauer ripped off three birdies in the opening five holes to card a 33 on the front nine before maintaining a four-shot overnight advantage on Emily Mathews from Eastern Alamance who also shot 70 in the final round.
Lohbauer combined with Riya Modak and Brook Sutton on day one to push Cox Mill out to a three-shot lead over four-time defending champions, Rockingham County. Kennedy Brady and Hailey Ellis joined the action for Cox Mill on day two, carding 79 and 81 respectively to help the Chargers to a 14-shot win over Rockingham County. The championship is Cox Mill’s first team State Championship in Women’s Golf.