Golf
The defending-champion Seaforth boys’ golf team finished third in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2A state championship at Pinehurst No. 6 on May 12.
Finding itself in a three-team battle for the top spot in round two, the Hawks finished behind second-place Pine Lake Prep (score of 628) and state-champion Salisbury (627) with a score of 629. This marked Seaforth’s third time earning a top three finish in its four-year existence.
Seaforth entered the second and final round tied for fifth in the team standings. Led by junior Ty Willoughby’s one-under-par performance on Day 2, the Hawks finished with the best Round 2 score by one stroke and even crept into the top two during competition.
In the individual results, defending champion Ty Willoughby finished fourth with a total score of 146, which was four strokes ahead of par. Willoughby didn’t have the best start in Round 1, recording four bogeys and two double bogeys to go along with his three birdies on holes two, four and 12. Entering the second round in tied for sixth, Willoughby stormed back with five birdies in Round 2, including three on the back nine holes.
Seaforth senior Griffin Ching finished right behind Willoughby in fifth place with a score of 148, earning his fourth straight top 15 finish in the state competition. Ching, tied for ninth after Round 1, climbed the leaderboard with four birdies on holes four, six, eight and 12 in Round 2.
The Hawks were the only Chatham County team to qualify in 2A and got help from others, including junior Campbell Meador (T-35th place, 161), sophomore Alex Ferm (T-61st place, 172) and senior Gray Stewart (79th place, 182).
Jordan-Matthews junior Ben Buckner earned a 46th-place finish with a score of 167, and Northwood sophomore Jackson Freeman finished tied for 58th with a score of 171.
Due to rain, the 1A competition at the Longleaf Golf and Family Club in Southern Pines only completed one round. Chatham Central earned a ninth-place finish in 1A with a score of 347. Junior Tyler Measmer had the best day for the Bears, shooting 78 and finishing tied for 12th. Other Bears included junior Jesse Eskelund (T-43rd, 85), senior Stephen Moody (T-73rd, 92) and junior Gavin Vanderford (T-73, 92).
Chatham Charter junior Caden Poremba represented the Knights by himself and finished tied for 76th place with a score of 93.
Boys’ Lacrosse
After receiving a bye in the first round, No. 3 Seaforth dominated No. 14 Havelock in the second round of the 1A/2A/3A East playoffs 21-5 Friday. The Hawks advanced to the third round for the first time in program history. Senior Cameron Exley scored a team-high seven goals. Freshman Liam McCann scored four goals, and junior Ivan Grimes recorded four goals and four assists.
No. 13 Northwood fell to No. 4 Union Pines 10-6 in the second round Friday. Union Pines sophomore Asher Rombalski poured in a team-best three goals. Northwood junior Grayson Cox led the way for the Chargers with three goals and five assists.
In the first round, Northwood trampled No. 20 Fike 18-3 thanks to six goals from sophomore Anthony Karpf and three scores each from Cox and junior Robert Tripp. The Chargers ended their season with an 8-13 overall record.
Girls’ Lacrosse
No. 4 Seaforth cruised to a 19-1 victory over No. 13 Cape Fear in the first round of the 1A/2A/3A East playoffs Friday.
No. 12 Northwood fell in the first round to No. 5 Swansboro 21-4. The Chargers ended their season with a 3-10 overall record.