GROUP A GOLF: R’heads’ Humphries takes 10th at Group A

MIDLOTHIAN – In his first experience in the Group A state golf tournament, Riverheads freshman Luke Humphries exceeded many expectations by shooting the best score of the Region B golfers, finishing with a 22-over par 166 after an 84 in the second round of the two-day tournament at Independence Golf Club.

“It was kind of up and down the whole two days,” Humphries said. “It’s hard to get something going on the greens. It was more of a learning year than a go-for-the-win year.”

Humphries day got off to a great start, as he shot a 1-over par 37 on the back nine, which served as the first nine holes for the individual groups. Out of the six Region B golfers, that was the best score over nine holes. Humphries’ back nine – the first nine holes of the course – was a little higher due to a nine on No. 7 when he hit the ball into the trees.

“Definitely on the back nine,” Humphries said of where he played the best. “I put the driver away and hit the 2-iron all over the back nine and ended up 1-over on the back.”

Humphries finished 10th among the individuals. Radford sophomore Zeke Shaffer was the Group A state golfer of the year after finishing with a 143, including a 70 on the final day.

“He had a very solid round. For the first time, I think, he acted like a freshman,” Riverheads coach Scott Cassell said of that seventh hole. “He made a typical freshman mistake of trying to advance the ball instead of coming out the easy way. I think if he had the situation over again, he probably would have played a different shot.

“What I wanted is for him to get a flavor of the type of pressure he would be under,” Cassell added. “Aside from one or two holes, he responded very well. Overall, he struck the ball well, made great decisions.”

Sordelett is a staff writer for the Danville Register & Bee.