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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

After averaging 37-over par in the first seven meets of the season, the Davie golf team came out of nowhere with a 14-over 122 at Pine Knolls on Sept. 25.

It was Kori Bailey’s day in the sun. The junior shot a career-best 2-over 38, four shots better than her previous best from Aug. 13 at Oak Valley. It marked Davie’s finest round since Emerson Vanzant’s even 34 at Bermuda Run West in September of 2022.

Bailey started her day with an eagle on the par-5 No. 8. She would collect four pars on the day.

“She hit a driver and 7-iron to inside two feet and made the putt (for eagle),” coach Bob Donley said. “She was beaming after her round today.”

Bailey wasn’t the only War Eagle who caught fire. Sophomore Gwynyth Swan had a career-best 41, shattering her old personal record of 47 at Tanglewood Park on Sept. 4. She birdied the par-4 No. 1 and recorded three pars.

“She was extremely steady all through her round and was excited when she realized she had shot 41,” Donley said.

And then there was senior Kate Sakai, who turned in a 43 to miss her career low by one stroke (42 at Pine Knolls in September of 2023). She birdied the par-4 No. 7 and had two pars.

“She had a tough start and was 4-over after her first three holes,” Donley said. “But she dug in and played the final six holes at 3-over par.

“I am so happy for all three of them. They all work very hard at improving their game, and it paid off big today for all three of them.”

Davie’s 122 was good for third behind West Forsyth’s 107 and Reagan’s 109. Reynolds shot 133 and East Forsyth 166.

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One day earlier at Reynolds Park, Sakai shot 10-over 45, Bailey 46 and Swan 48 as Davie finished fourth in the CPC meet.

After double bogeying the first three holes, Sakai went par, bogey, par, bogey, par in a span of five holes to lead her team. Bailey put together three straight pars to help Davie stay within striking distance of third place in the conference.

The week started with Reynolds standing in third at 692; Davie was at 695. Frontrunner Reagan (577) has a comfortable lead over West Forsyth (596).