By Susan Worley
This article is reprinted online with permission from the Star-Tribune and was approved by Susan Worley. “Hargrave Golfer Set School Record” first appeared April 27, 2005. Susan Worley is a Star-Tribune staff writer.
Hargrave Military Academy Tiger golfers set a school record April 13 in a tri-match with Holy Cross and Roanoke Catholic at Cedars Country Club.
Hargrave posted a 142 score, besting a school record they set last year of 148.
Shooting a four under 32 was Brad Myers, a senior from Chatham. Behind him at two under was Stephen Boyd, a junior from Danville at 34.
Jacob Pryor, a senior from Gretna, and Walker Gladding, a sophomore from Tappahannock, completed the record-breaking score with 38, each.
Virginia Independent Conference golf matches are nine holes with six golfers participating in each match. The two highest scores are dropped. The four lowest scores are tallied for the team score.
“Fortunately I happened to be at the right place at the right time,” said first year golf coach Richard Gifford, who considers himself lucky to coach such a talented team.
“They are all very competent golfers and everything just seems to have come together this year.”
Comparing his golfing skills to their’s, Gifford confides, “I couldn’t make this team.”
Myers leads the team with a 35.7 average through seven rounds.
Boyd has a 37.3 average through seven rounds and Pryor has a 40.6 average through five matches.
Pryor has been on the golf team the three years he has been at Hargrave.
Myers has been on the Hargrave team since coming to school there five years ago as an eighth-grader.
Boyd is in his first year on the Hargrave team, but he played two years previously on the George Washington High School team in Danville.
All three have played golf since they were very young.
“When you reach this level, the pleasure is winning,” said Myers. “You can play for fun, but once we get out there, we know what we have to do to win.”
Their coach agrees.
“They have put in the hours of practice and perfected their game. Even when it’s tough, they will step up to the plate and make it nine out of 10 times,” said Gifford.
“I see these guys getting better each week,” he added. “They are striking the ball better every time they go out there.”
Myers has been recruited by the University of Virginia. He will probably redshirt his freshman year, but expects to move into a position on the golf team as a sophomore. He plans to major in political science.
Myers has received instruction for the past two years from golf pro Jimmy Flippin Jr. and credits him with improvement in his game. Myers also plays in junior tournaments.
Pryor has narrowed his choices to Virginia Tech or James Madison University and expects to major in the health sciences.
“When you learn to play at their level, it is a lifetime sport,” said Gifford. “It is a skill you never lose and will enjoy for years to come.”
Hargrave’s difference is team depth. If one of the top scorers on the team has a bad day, the fifth and sixth competitors step up to the plate.
Ryan Short’s score has counted in four out of seven matches. Short is a junior from Emporia.
Gladding has scored in three out of six matches, one of which was the record setter.
Clayton Moss’ score has counted in one match. He is an eighth-grader from Gretna.
Other golf team members are Seth Edenfield, a senior from Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Lloyd Hanley, a junior from Houston, Texas; and John Mathena, a freshman from Danville.
Success relies on “dedication,” said Myers and “practicing on days you don’t really want to,” added Jacob.
Their first match was peppered with sleet, snow and a cold rain—not exactly ideal golf weather.
“You just have to fight through in that situation,” said Myers. “Your scores are going to be higher, but everyone’s score is going to be higher.”
Of utmost importance and looming at the end of the season is the VIC Tournament May 9 at the Goodyear Golf Course, an all-day event in which the top 10 golfers are tapped for All-Conference.
Pryor received honorable mention all conference last year.
Myers has made all conference since eighth grade.
The Tigers’ home course is Cedars Country Club. It is convenient and the membership at Cedars “has been good to us,” said Gifford.
Their victories include wins over Roanoke Catholic School, March 16, 164-198; Carlisle School, March 30, 157-167; Fishburne Military Academy, April 6, 151-187; Timberlake Christian School, April 11, 158-193; Holy Cross/Roanoke Catholic, April 13, Hargrave, 142; Catholic, 201; and Holy Cross, 214; North Cross School, April 18, 167-183; and Lynchburg Christian Academy, April 21, 148-157.
