The Broughton Men's Golf Team won the school's 12th NCHSAA state championship on May 7th and 8th on Pinehurst No. 6 in come from behind fashion.
Day 1 of the tournament saw the Caps shoot a solid 303. Peter Fountain led the team with a 74 on the tight par 72 course. Patrick Carlin shot 75, Biggs Hawley 76, Connor Jones 78 and Britt Stroud 79. The Caps were the only team with all five team members under 80.
As the Day 1 scores rolled in, it looked like the Caps were going to be leading the way. At 303, the Caps had a six stroke lead over Pinecrest and Hough and a seven stroke lead over Myers Park, the three most consistent power teams of the season. Instead, Ardrey Kell out of Charlotte grabbed the lead at 299, and Cardinal Gibbons posted 3rd at 305.
So rather than a Day 2 direct match-up with 3-time defending champ Pinecrest and Hough, the Caps would play with Ardrey Kell and Cardinal Gibbons, and Pinecrest, Hough and a very potent Myers Park would be on the other side of the course.
As Day 2 progressed, Peter Fountain, Biggs Hawley, Patrick Carlin and Connor Jones were consistent, patient and steady. The final standings began to take shape as the leading teams came in. Showing tremendous Senior leadership, on the 18th hole Connor Jones sank a 15 footer for birdie to complete a 76, and Patrick Carlin sank a 10 footer to get up and down for par for 75. Biggs Hawley made par on 18 to complete a strong round at 76. In the final group, Peter Fountain had a clutch birdie on the 17th hole to move into red numbers at 1 under par and then a nice par on 18 to finish out a 71.
The Caps were in at 298 for Day 2, 601 for the tournament, ahead of Ardrey Kell by 8 shots and Cardinal Gibbons by 12, and now waited for scores to be posted from the strong teams finishing on the other side of the course.
Hough and Pinecrest posted a couple of higher scores and fell out of contention, despite a 2 under par 70 from AJ Beechler, Pinecrest's individual defending state champion.
Myers Park's scores began to go up on the board, first a 79, then 71, 72 and 73. It was down to the final score to go up. A 74 or better from Myers Park's #1 player, and they'd be state champs. The final score went up as a 78 and the Caps were winners by 3 shots!
With the team title decided, the final order of business was the individual champion. Peter Fountain's 2nd day 71, and defending champion AJ Beechler's 70, left them tied at 145 for the tournament, with a playoff set to break it. Playing the 18th hole again, Beechler hit the green in regulation, and Fountain's approach shot came up a bit short. Fountain missed his putt to get up and down, Beechler two-putted and was crowned the repeat NCHSAA 4A individual champion. A Senior, Beechler and two of his Senior teammates are headed for Division 1 golf next year. Sophomore Peter Fountain has two more cracks at individual and team titles.
Broughton was crowned team Champion, with Myers Park as runner-up. It was the Caps' 3rd title in 7 years under coaches Anderson Marlowe and Steve Smith. It was the Caps' 9th title in the last 21 years, and the 12th overall since the Caps's three-peat in 1972-1974.
In addition to team and individual trophies, the coaches of the winning team bestowed the 2018 NC Farm Bureau Outstanding Sportsmanship award on Broughton Senior Patrick Carlin! Congratulations Patrick and well-deserved!
When asked about this latest Broughton Caps golf title, coach Anderson Marlowe said "This one is special because this group of guys may not the most talented team in the state, but they supported each other and had tremendous chemistry, and held together to pull out a great win."
Special thanks to coaches Anderson Marlowe, Steve Smith, Jeff Ferrell and former Broughton golfer (and hoopster) Cyrus Stewart. Coach Smith took the players to numerous tournaments around the state, and he is very active and highly regarded across NC junior golf. Coach Stewart enjoyed reliving his glory days of Broughton golf, even bringing his mom to enjoy the Caps' winning final round! Now that is some Caps loyalty!
A State title is a great way to go out as a Senior! And for the underclassmen, the only team that can win back-to-back titles is the one who won the last one!
GO CAPS!