KF, Lakeland golfers open season

On an afternoon for gaining experience and testing everyone’s stamina, Lakeland’s and King’s Fork’s golf teams started their seasons against Chesapeake opponents Monday at Sleepy Hole Golf Course.

Grassfield beat Lakeland 329-400 and Deep Creek beat King’s Fork 364-401 as the heat dragged all the rounds out to right around five-hour rounds.

For some of the Cavaliers, it was an introduction to high school and competitive golf. For the Bulldogs, while most of the KF players are returners from last season, everyone is stepping up the lineup.

“Plus we have three more players who weren’t here today,” said King’s Fork head coach Calvin Mitchell.

“We have one guy who’s at an ROTC camp this week and two beginners who are still working on their skills,” Mitchell said.

Andrew Womack, a veteran for Mitchell through past couple seasons who’s now been promoted into the No. 1 spot for the Bulldogs, shot an 88 to lead KF and tie two Hornets as tri-medalists. Griffin Saylor shot a 94 and William Crow, a newcomer to King’s Fork from Northern Virginia, shot 103.

The Bulldogs are without their best player from last season, Adam Peebles. Peebles transferred from Portsmouth Christian to King’s Fork a summer ago and moved back to Portsmouth Christian in the spring.

Grassfield had two players shoot in the 70s, led by Steven Decker’s 77, and two players shoot in the 80s to defeat the Cavaliers.

Ryan Sigler, who’s been Lakeland’s top golfer for the last two seasons, carded an 87 for the best Cavalier round. Evan Norris was next-lowest for Lakeland with a 101.

Sigler improved practically by the round last season, culminating by finishing third in the Southeastern District Tournament with a 1-over par 73 at Sleepy Hole, which took him into the Eastern Region Tournament.

The high school golf season can hardly be called a fall sport. Lakeland has seven of its nine district dual matches scheduled in August and the Bulldogs are set to have eight of nine done by the end of August. The Cavs play Great Bridge and the Bulldogs play Oscar Smith at Nansemond River Golf Club on Wednesday.