Clover second, York third in golf match

Clover High School placed second and York Comprehensive High School was third in the Aug. 27 three-way golf match at York’s Spring Lake Country Club.

South Pointe finished first, with a team total of 168, and Jodie Tindall took medalist honors with an individual score of 37. The Lady Blue Eagles were next with a cumulative score of 207, with Alyssa Campbell carding a low individual score of 41.

The Lady Cougars finished with a team score of 218; Sarah Smith shot a 42 for the team’s low individual score.

Campbell and Smith often compete together on the tournament circuit.

“I know a lot about Sarah’s golf game,” said Campbell. “We’re best friends.”

Smith echoed Campbell’s sentiments. “Alyssa is my golfing best friend,” she said. “That’s who I play with the most. We’ve been playing golf since we were 8 years old.”

CHS head girls’ golf coach Lyn Harper said Campbell won the individual region tournament last year.

“Alyssa was individual medalist as a ninth-grader,” said the Lady Blue Eagle coach. “She went to the Upper State and advanced to the state, where she finished No. 24 in 4A classification last year. She won a couple tournaments this summer and a couple last year.”

Harper said Campbell “has confidence in her short game, especially her putting. It’s not until you get to the green that it really counts. If you’re not any good at your short game, your game will suffer.”

Campbell said she feels good about the CHS team this season.

“I think we can work our way to the top of the region and to the upper state,” she said. “And maybe from there on if we get lucky.”

Harper lauded senior mainstay Sarah Reid for her contributions to the girls’ golf program. “She will be a walk-on at Converse with their golf team,” Harper said. “She’s improved her scores by 10 to 5 shots, so we’re real excited.”

Harper also said the scores may not always reflect the team’s progress. “In high school golf, you build for the region tournament,” she said. “Your goal is to move onto the next level from there.”

York’s Smith also had an active summer competing in tournaments.

“I didn’t do as well as I wanted to,” she said. “This is the high school season and I’m trying to get better.”

Smith said the summer tournaments make a difference.

“You’re playing against girls in Charleston and Charlotte that are way better than you,” she said. “You don’t get down on yourself as much. It helps you build your competitiveness and to play better.”

Smith said she has more confidence in her tee shots and approach shots at this stage.

“My putting has improved but I really need to work on my chipping,” she said. “Golf is more of a mind game. You have to be mentally prepared.”

Smith said new faces are meshing with experienced players on the team.

“They’re doing great,” she said of the younger players. “All of our girls that are coming back are doing great. I’m excited to see what’s happening this year.”

This story was originally published August 31, 2015 at 4:02 PM with the headline "Clover second, York third in golf match."