FRANKLIN
Southampton High School’s golf team won its nine-hole match against Windsor High School on Wednesday at Cypress Cove Country Club. This information comes from William Whitehurst, coach of the golf team at Southampton High

“We posted a team score on 196 and Windsor had a team score of 206,” Whitehurst reported on Thursday morning. “Southampton was led by Bryce Simms and Hunter Rountree, who shot a solid round of 42 and 43, respectively.”

Josh Williams shot a 55; Chase Majette and Wyatt Raiford both shot a 56; and Dylan Duke had 63.

Just before play on Wednesday, sophomore Simms said that he became involved in the game through his father and brother, both who play “pretty good.” Freshman Rountree, who has been playing for two years, also acknowledged his dad introduced him to golf.

For that matter, Windsor High juniors Zach Phipps and Zach Walsh also credited their fathers. Phipps said he’s been playing for four years; Walsh added that his whole family plays, and he’s been participating since eighth grade.

Whitehurst, who has been coaching for six years, loves the game as well.

“It instills good values such as integrity and honesty,” he said. “It’s a good game if played correctly.”

Although the team lost four seniors to graduation this past spring, Whitehurst is confident about the players he has now.

“It looks good in the future,” Whitehurst said.

He added his gratitude to the Cypress Cove Country Club for allowing the teams to use the facilities.

Ryan Pringle, coach for the Dukes, reported that Phipps shot a 43; Walsh a 45; Danny Gnieski a 55; Zach Edwards a 63; followed by Linda Howell at 64 and Deacon Ellsworth at 66.

This is Pringle’s third year supervising the Dukes’ team, although he’s coached the game at Phoebus High and Peninsula Catholic. The physical education teacher added he’s played the game since he was around eight to 10 years old back in the early 1990s.

Although Pringle also lost four seniors to graduation, he’s optimistic about this year’s young team. Walsh, for example, could make it to the state levels this year.

Among the players are two females for the first time, Linda Howell and Abagayle Nelms.

Southampton’s next match will be on Monday, Sept. 18, against Parkview. The match will be held at Cypress Cove Country Club at 3:30 p.m.

Windsor’s next match will be on Monday, Sept. 18, against Greensville County at 3:30 p.m. on the Cypress Creek Golf Course in Smithfield. It’s also a location that Pringle acknowledges gratitude for the team being allowed to play.