NSA pursues golf repeat
Published 10:56 pm Friday, April 26, 2013
The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy golf team went to Richmond to face The Steward School on Thursday and had a difficult day, but they did what champions do and won anyway, 166-169, at the Sycamore Creek Golf Course.
“It was definitely a course, a style that we weren’t used to,” NSA head coach Katie Murphy said. “Overall, it wasn’t their best performance, but a win’s a win. We’re only going to play there once, so I’m just kind of chalking it up to just a long week, and we’ll kind of move on from there.”
Nansemond-Suffolk Academy junior Trey Wren watches his shot during Tuesday’s match against Norfolk Academy at Sleepy Hole Golf Course. After being absent due to sickness the match before, Wren was Tuesday’s medalist, continuing to prove his importance to the Saints’ chances at repeating as state champions. The Saints’ 166-169 win on Thursday over The Steward School further solidified their position as a top team in the state this year.
After a strong win on Tuesday at home against Norfolk Collegiate, the Saints were playing for the second time this week.
“It was closer than we thought it was going to be, but I’m glad we took care of business,” senior Stuart Brazil said.
Confidence is running high among the team this year regarding its chances to repeat as Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II state champions.
“We feel pretty confident, and as long as we can get into the state tournament like we did last year — we came in last year at eighth, and we won,” junior Trey Wren said. “So, as long as we can get into the tournament, anything can happen, so that’s all we’re looking for.”
The top eight teams in the state are invited to the state tournament, and the Saints have made things easy on themselves this year by playing so well. Though they dropped in the latest VISAA standings, the move merely put them at No. 2 among Division II programs.
Murphy likes where the team is headed based on its play as of late, even including part of the Steward match.
“I have a good feeling about it,” she said. “Young Thomas Meyers, a freshman, has come on very strong.”
She pointed to his 39 as crucial to Thursday’s win because NSA was down coming into the last group.
Murphy said Stuart Brazil has played an important role in the Saints’ recent success.
“In the last couple of weeks, he’s been coming through and shooting in the 30s, as well, and that’s been a big help for us,” she said. “He’s very steady, always dependable.”
Nansemond-Suffolk improves to 9-2 overall and 3-2 in the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools. The Saints host Hampton Roads Academy on Tuesday, then visit Norfolk Christian High School on May 2 and play in a tri-match with Collegiate School and Trinity Episcopal School on May 7. The TCIS tournament begins on May 13.
“I feel really good about (the Saints’) chances at TCIS,” Murphy said. “Both times that they have lost — to Cape Henry and Greenbrier — it was just by a matter of a few strokes. It wasn’t an overwhelming loss. I think it’s going to be very competitive.”
