by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi
The Lancaster High School Red Devils golf team is upper classmen heavy, with three returning seniors and four returning juniors. In fact, the only newcomer on coach Rich Ford’s team is also a junior.
Back to lead the team are senior veterans Sheridan Ford and Jacob Hudnall, who played in the number one and two spots for the Devils, respectively at a four-team, nine-hole match at Golden Eagle Golf Course last Thursday. Ford shot the team low of 41 and Hudnall a 48 as Lancaster finished as the runner-up with a score of 187, just five strokes behind leader New Kent with 182.
Junior returners Spencer Crittenden and Nicklaus Ford both shot a 49. Junior returners Roman Cutler and Blake Smith also played but their scores did not count in the team score. Smith did post one of his season lows with a 52.
Crittenden, who started for the Devils as a sophomore, led Lancaster in post season play last year, shooting the team’s low score of 90 to finish 15th overall in the Region 1A tournament.
Cutler and Smith are also returners along with senior Evan Steensma. New to the team is junior Matthew Kleinfelter.
In play last week, Rob Kinder of New Kent had the match low of 39, while teammate Kyle Peck shot a 45 and Clayton Evelyn and Charles Miles both shot a 49.
Northumberland placed third in the match with a team score of 195. Brandon Chisum shot a 41, Corey Palubinski a 48, Patrick Lewis a 50 and Matthew Jett a 56.
The Mathews Blue Devils finished fourth with 203 points and were led by Matt Jenkins’ 46. Zach Dehoux shot a 50, Chase Lewis a 51 and Cole Huff a 56.
The Devils will host a nine-hole match today, September 14, at Golden Eagle and travel to Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club Tuesday, September 19, to play Northumberland.
The Northern Neck District meet will be September 25, followed by the Region A meet on October 2 and the state tournament, October 9 and 10.
