Oct. 15—The Lee County women’s golf team carried an undefeated record in 3A matches into Monday’s meet at Pinehurst No. 6, and has already qualified for the NCHSAA 3A Central Regionals to be held Oct. 21 at The Valley Golf Course in Burlington.
The Lady Falcons, who are coached by Joan Wicker with Lauren Sloan, Laney Laudate, Mary Thomas Smith, Sydney Pomeranz, Kara Savage, and Savannah Phillips as players, have shown strong teamwork throughout their season and have even held their own with the 4A powerhouses in the area. Pomeranz, the team’s lone senior, even won medalist honors in one of the Sandhills Athletic Conference matches, beating not only all of her 3A opponents, but also beating all of the 4A golfers representing Pinecrest, Richmond, and Hoke.
“Coaching a team that has so much school spirit and desire to compete at a higher level is an honor. I love their laughter, smiles, and cheers,” said Wicker.
Lee opened the season Sept. 5 with the lone non-conference match of the campaign, against Chatham Central with Lee hosting at its home course of Sanford Golf Course. Lee won the nine-hole match contested at par-35 over 2,414 yards, 134-166.
After that victory, the Lady Jackets had the six conference meets to contest. While all seven SAC teams compete together and medalist honors are given to the top combined finisher, the team standings are separated into 3A and 4A, and while 4A powerhouse Pinecrest typically posts the low team score in these matches, Lee has to beat Southern Lee, Union Pines, and Scotland to make the regionals, and did so in every match going into Monday. Results of that match were not available at press time, but the Lady Jackets have already won the 3A half of the league.
The conference matches were held Sept. 9 (Scotch Meadows, Laurinburg); Sept. 23 (Sanford Golf Course); Sept. 25 (Foxfire Golf Club); Sept. 30 (Deercroft Golf CLub, Wagram); Oct. 7 (Whispering Pines Country Club), and Monday’s match at Pinehurst No. 6.
On Oct. 7 at Whispering Pines, three of the 10 top golfers, including the top 3A finisher, represented the Lady Jackets. Four Pinecrest golfers headed the leaderboard, and then Pomeranz was fifth, Smith tied for seventh, and Laudate tied for ninth with Celine Trumm of Union Pines.
Pomeranz’ overall win came in the match at Foxfire, the same place she and the Lady Jackets competed in the 2023 state championship meet. She shot 36 over nine holes to win individual honors and Lee finished second as a team to Pinecrest, with Scotland in third.
Wicker praised the team for its teamwork throughout the season as Lee County seeks to improve on last year’s strong postseason, during which it finished ninth in the state.
“We are excited and extremely proud of our team,” she said. “They are a great team that has worked together to help build one another’s confidence and offered support with their golf game. Sydney, Savannah Phillips, Laney Laudate, and Mary Thomas Smith had competitive scores which partnered them with 4A players this year. Last year Lauren Sloan joined us as a new to golf player and qualified for Regionals both years. Senior, Kara Savage, a softball player, joined us this year. She has fallen in love with golf and qualified for regionals.”
