VGCC golf team concludes first season; Vanguards fare well at tournament

The Vance-Granville Community College golf team recently wrapped up its inaugural season.

The team finished fourth overall in a rain-shortened tournament hosted by Central Carolina Community College in Sanford on April 2. In addition to the host, Sandhills Community College, Wake Technical Community College, VGCC, Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute and Johnston Community College took part. With a team score of 156, Sandhills CC emerged victorious. Lawton Perry’s 43 was the best VGCC score through nine holes. Perry was joined at the tournament by Vanguards teammates Joshua Lorenzo, Tommy Overcash and Michael Reese.

On April 9, VGCC had a chance to take on Johnston Community College alone at the Vanguards’ home course, Henderson Country Club. The Vanguards came up one stroke short in a close contest, with a score of 285 to Johnston CC’s 284. But according to Coach Frank Hester, VGCC’s Tommy Overcash did achieve the best score among all players on either team that day. Joshua Lorenzo, Phillip Hicks and Michael Reese also played for VGCC.

Finally, VGCC golfers competed in the NJCAA Region X tournament hosted by Johnston CC at Smithfield Country Club on April 13-14. With a score of 166 (22 over par), Tommy Overcash received the first-place medallion for the best individual score in Division II. He had the seventh-best score among all players. Michael Reese finished third in Division II with 179 (35 over par). VGCC golfers Phillip Hicks and Joshua Lorenzo also played in the seven-school tournament.

“Overall, I think we did very well for our first season,” Coach Hester said. “The competition was strong, but we represented ourselves well. It was exciting and rewarding for the players to get some good exposure and to play some very good courses.” Hester said he hoped this year’s successes will attract strong recruits to join at least three students who will return to the team next year.

For more information, visit VGCC’s web site ( http://vgcc.springerstudios.net/Athletics/ ).