Salisbury takes its second straight 2-A golf crown

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SOUTHERN PINES –  Taylor Coalson of North Surry won on the second hole of a sudden death playoff take his second straight individual state crown on Tuesday in the 27th annual North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A men’s golf championships at the Longleaf Golf and Country Club.

Coalson and Salisbury's Alex Nianouris led the way on Monday with scores of one-under 70 on the par-71, 6,600-yard layout, and then both shot 70 in the final round as well, forcing the playoff.

The Salisbury golfer finished in a tie for fourth in last year's state tournament.

Eric Edwards of Salisbury, with a 69 in the final round,  was third at 142 and Clinton's Festus Turlington placed fourth, four shots back.

Nianouris and Edwards helped lead Salisbury to the top of the team standings. The Hornets, seeking their second consecutive state team championship, built up a solid 13-shot lead on Monday and then rolled to a convincing victory with an outstanding 283 on Tuesday, winning by 31 shots over runner-up North Lincoln, which won the team title in 2009 and 2010.

Newton-Conover shot a 620 team total, good for third place. The best four of six individual scores count toward the team total.

Salisbury's golf program completed a unique double this academic year-- no NCHSAA school had won the women's golf team title in the fall and then captured the men's championship in the spring. Salisbury's women's team took the 1A/2A title in the fall.

            Prior to 1986, all NCHSAA schools competed for a single title in an open tournament. Play went to three classifications in 1986 and then to four classes beginning with the 1998 tournaments.

            A total of 84 golfers began play in the two-day tournament.           

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

2012 MEN’S 2-A GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Longleaf Golf and Country Club, Southern Pines

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS

Salisbury                                    290            283            573

North Lincoln                                   303            301            604

Newton-Conover                        310            310             620

Shelby                                                320            317            637

West Davidson                                    320            317            637

Richlands                                     329            327            656

SouthWest Edgecombe                        327            332            659

Hillsborough Cedar Ridge            334            325            659

Reidsville                                     335            333            668

Carrboro                                    342            329            671

North Surry                                    336            337            673

Newport Croatan                        346            333            679