CAP-7 CONFERENCE GOLF
With teammate Kaity Fuqua looking on in the background, Leesville Road's Alli Mossinghoff (left) watches her drive Tuesday afternoon during the Cap-7 Conference's golf match at Wildwood Green Golf Club in Raleigh. The Pride placed second in the match, trailing only Wakefield.
Schultz, Yelle lead Wakefield
to another victory
Having already completed her golf round Tuesday afternoon, Wakefield freshman Morgan Schultz waited impatiently outside the Wildwood Green clubhouse for her teammate Stephanie Pribonic to appear.
For the past few minutes, the ninth-grader had done the math in her head, and realized the Lady Wolverines — with a good score from Pribonic —could break its school record for a round for the third time this season.
Behind Schultz's 37 — which gave her medalist honors — and Wolverine teammate Katie Yelle's 38, Wakefield had a great chance to pull off the feat again.
When Pribonic showed up minutes later, the teammates locked eyes immediately, and the first words from both girls were "What did you score?"
The sophomore explained she shot a 42, and Schultz typed in her teammate's score into her purple cellphone's calculator. Wakefield's top trio recorded a 117, and, yes, it was another record.
The Lady Wolverines bested second-place finisher, Leesville Road (133), by 16 strokes as well. Broughton (134), WF-R (143), Enloe (146), Sanderson (151) and Millbrook (157) rounded out the contest. Click here for more detailed results.
Wakefield coach Rick Riggleman lauded Schultz's team-first attitude, despite the fact she's recorded gaudy numbers this season. The freshman's been the low scorer in three of the Cap-7 Conference's four matches.
"She reminds me of a young Courtney [McKim] because she was more excited with what the team keeps accomplishing," the coach said, comparing Schultz to Wakefield's former standout.
In just four league matches, Schultz's dominance has become almost a forgone conclusion because of her excellent play. But it was another Lady Wolverine, Yelle, which put together the day's more notable round.
After three solid, but not spectacular rounds, to start the season, the senior shot three over Tuesday — par was 35 — beating her previous season's best by four strokes.
And Yelle was in contention for medalist honors until a bogey on the last hole dropped her one stroke off the pace.
"She is very excited, and she should be," said Riggleman. "That's her first sub-40 of her career."
Wakefield's fourth golfer, Katie Michalak's stellar round (44) should also be noted.
Riggleman said the Lady Wolverines' outstanding performance came just a day after a little "pep talk" about understanding their responsibilities.
"We basically went over that the girls just had to beat the people in their group, and that the team stuff would come later," the coach said.
It seems like the benefits of the Lady Wolverines' deepest team in school history have arrived early.
With the victory, Wakefield (28) takes a six-point lead in the team standings, with Broughton (22) and Leesville Road (21) sitting second and third, respectively. In all likelihood, barring an unforeseen mishap, the Lady Wolverines' advantage should be enough to lock up the conference title.
After a fourth-place finish at Wil-Mar last week, the Pride rebounded with a nice outing on its home course Tuesday.
Kaity Fuqua dropped four points off her previous best, shooting a 40 at Wildwood Green. Alli Mossinghoff (45), Mary Lee Free (48) and Mariah Hopkins (53) also had solid afternoons.
Sanderson's Najah Owens continues to improve week after week, shooting a 45 Tuesday. It is the fourth consecutive week the Lady Spartan has lowered her score, and she is pushing herself into contention with the conference's leaders. Jessica Perez (51) and Peri Wolfe (55) also competed for Sanderson.
Despite the team's last-place finish, Millbrook's Alex Klimczyk put together her best round of the year, shooting a 48. It is the fourth-consecutive week she's improved on her score. Christen Manuszak (54) and Sarah Snarzyk (55) rounded out the Lady Wildcats' scorers.
The Cap-7 Conference's next match is Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Olde Liberty in Franklin County.
Wakefield's Stephanie Pribonic (pictured) teamed with Morgan Schultz and Katie Yelle to record a school record round of 117 Tuesday afternoon. It was the third time the Lady Wolverines have rewritten the mark this season.
