Columnists
Email
Print
Competitive: Carter ready to face challengers in Seniors play
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: May 18, 2009
Gerald Carter had so many close calls through the years in county golf tournaments he finally got to celebrate last May. Carter won his first Forsyth Seniors shooting 65-67 at Olde Homeplace and Maple Leaf as he chased down Mike Rowland. It wasn't a big monkey that Carter got off his back, but it was a relief.
"I guess it was about time I won one of those," Carter said last week.
He had finished runner-up at least four times in the Forsyth Invitational and in 1970 he was runner-up in the Forsyth Junior. But in his first try in the Forsyth Seniors (over age 55), Carter came through for the victory.
Carter, who retired as a teacher and basketball coach from Carver last year, has had more time to work on his game. But that doesn't mean much.
"I do have more time to play and practice, but I also have more time to do other things," said Carter, who is 57.
The Forsyth Seniors will begin on Thursday at Maple Leaf with the final round on Friday at Reynolds Park.
Carter is expecting plenty of challengers.
Rowland will be playing again this year, according to Dick Butler, the tournament director. Richard Giles, who was the Forsyth Invitational winner in 2007, will be playing in his first Forsyth Seniors.
Also in the field of about 90 players are Arlis Pike and Ron Morgan.
"I think it's one of the best fields we've had because a lot of guys are eligible at age 55 who can really play," Carter said. "I know Richard is eligible for the first time, so he's capable of winning."
In last year's tournament Rowland shot a 61 in the first round, but struggled in the second round which opened the door for Carter. Over 36 holes Carter wound up with 15 birdies and finished 11 under for the tournament.
"You could make birdies on both of those courses, so you just never felt out of it," Carter said. "If you feel like you can make up ground and the birdies are out there then it's a little easier to play."
Carter said that there's no way he will feel pressure in trying to defend.
"I'm feeling pretty good about where my game is, but that doesn't mean I'm going to play well," Carter said. "Golf's a fickle game."
Last year, as a "rookie" in the Forsyth Seniors, Carter enjoyed the competition and the pressure of grinding on the last few holes. "It's just a lot of fun when the heat is on," he said.
As for this year's tournament, Carter says that he loves the greens at Maple Leaf and he knows Reynolds Park very well.
"I was member there at Reynolds Park growing up, and I rejoined there in November," Carter said.
With Reynolds Park under new management with Harold Kincaid and Mark Hartis, Carter said he expects it to be in good shape.
"Playing against all these guys for so many years in county tournaments, I don't think we ever get tired of it," Carter said. "I'm looking forward to it."
Top player picks Wake Forest
John Varol, a junior at Covenant Day in Matthews, has committed to play golf at Wake Forest.
Varol is ranked as one of the top juniors in the state. He finished second in the N.C. Independent Schools 3-A Athletic Association championship, shooting a 71-74 last week.
Coach Jerry Haas had been recruiting Varol for a while.
"The biggest thing for me was playing for Coach Haas, and after getting to know him I really felt comfortable and once I visited the school I knew it would be a good fit," Varol said. "I was just honored that they were even recruiting me."
What helped Varol decided were two players already on the Deacons. He played junior golf with Lee Bedford and Daniel Meggs, who are both freshmen for the Deacons.
Varol got a late start to the game, not picking up a club until he was 12. Five years later, he turned himself into one of the top golfers in the state.
"I played baseball a lot, and I just kind of converted that same swing," said Varol, who was good enough to play AAU baseball. He still plays soccer for Covenant Day and scored 52 goals the last two seasons.
He caught the golf bug while visiting his grandparents on Hilton Head Island. He soon quit baseball to focus on golf. His parents belong to Piper Glen in Charlotte, where he once shot a 65 from the back tees.
Varol said he was being recruited by North Carolina and Virginia and two Ivy League schools.
"I've really worked hard in the classroom, and the school I go to is one of the hardest in the state," Varol said. "Academics has always come first and golf second."
Around the green
Maybe a hole-in-one by Ken Spencer of Winston-Salem State is good omen for next season. Spencer, an assistant coach for the WSSU men's basketball team, had his ace on No. 4 at Winston Lake last week as he used an 8-iron on the 138-yard hole. His playing partners included head coach Bobby Collins and another assistant, Murray Gavin. Also in the group were John Williams and Kristina Baugh….
Final round coverage of The Players drew a 4.1/10 overnight rating last Sunday, which is an increase of 21 percent from the year before. It was the best overnight rating for the tournament since 2004. The 4.1/10 rating matched the rating of the NBA playoff game that day between the Lakers and the Rockets….
Jay Haas had great success at the Valero Texas Open through the years, winning the tournament twice. Jay's son, Bill, did something that Jay never could do and that's shoot a 29 on nine holes at the tournament. Bill accomplished that in last Thursday's first round on his front nine (he started on hole No. 10.) Jay played in the Texas Open 23 times and his lowest nine-hole score was a 30….
Christy O'Conner, 84, was selected in the veterans' category for the World Golf Hall of Fame. O'Connor becomes the second Irishman to enter the hall; the late Joe Carr was inducted in 2007. During his 40-year career, he won 24 titles on The European Tour including the 1956 and '59 British Masters. He made 10 Ryder Cup teams from 1955 until 1973.
■ John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or at jdell@wsjournal.com.
Email
Print
