APA wins golf tournament title, prepares for state finals

Arendell Parrott Academy’s golf team won the EPIC Boys’ Championship Monday at Kinston Country Club. The team consists of, from left, Colby Tant, Bryon Overbey, Matthew Richardson, Jackson Crocker, Drew Greene, Brooks Plumb and coach Rickie Killinger. Submitted photo

 By Junious Smith III

Arendell Parrott Academy will be ready for the state golf tournament next week.

The Patriots shot a season-best score of 298 to win the Eastern Piedmont Independent Conference boys' golf championship Monday at the Kinston Country Club. Despite being in a conference with the No. 1 team in the NCISAA — Raleigh St. David's — APA remained undaunted in its approach.

It also helped one week prior, the Patriots defeated St. David’s in a regular season match to give the team additional confidence.

"These boys have put in a tremendous amount of work throughout the season," Parrott coach Rickie Killinger said. "We did struggle early on in the season, but there has been a lot of growth over the past three or four weeks. We're peaking at the right time and we're where we need to be at this time of the season.

"I think the guys underestimated their capabilities and when they were able to upset St. David's; it really helped them out. Beating the top team in the state gave them a lot of confidence and then we got some amazing games in the championships."

Colby Tant has certainly grown throughout the season. The sophomore struggled to find a rhythm to start the year, but shot a 71 Monday to lead the Patriots. Matthew Richardson followed with a 72, Jackson Crocker shot 76 and Drew Greene had a score of 79.

"The beginning of the season wasn't that good," Tant said. "I shot a 96 in the first match, but got a 71 (Monday). I'm hitting the ball so much better — at first I couldn’t even hit it 200 yards, but now I’m able to get it about 300. It took a lot of practice.”

The Patriots are a young team, with Crocker the team’s most seasoned player as a junior. Tant, Richardson, a freshman; and Greene, an eighth grader, make up the Patriots’ main quartet, with eighth-grader Bryon Overbey and seventh-grader Brooks Plumb rounding out the roster.

Crocker said the team knew what to expect this season, but also had the talent to make an impact.

"Coming in, we knew that our conference was going to be tough and St. David's would have a strong team," Crocker said. "We were playing at home, so we were feeling even better about our chances and trusted ourselves."

Richardson said the pressure is off looking toward Monday.

"We're just going out and playing our game," Richardson said "We know we can beat anyone in the state and we're peaking at the right time."

The NCISAA state championships will be held Monday and Tuesday at Bryan Park in Greensboro.