Vanzant shows great improvement for girls golf

Published 9:25 am Thursday, September 2, 2021

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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

The story from the Davie girls golf team’s opening week was the huge strides Emerson Vanzant has made.

In the season opener at Winding Creek on Aug. 23, the junior posted the best score of three-year career: 9-over 45, which was good for ninth place overall. Her previous best was 10-over 46 at Oak Valley on April 14, 2021.

Vanzant kept her momentum going at the Meadowlands on Aug. 25. Because of the heat, the start time was pushed back to 6 o’clock and the match was cut down to six holes. Vanzant was the medalist with a 1-over 24.

“Emerson has worked hard this summer on her game and has played in many tournaments all summer,” coach Bob Donley said. “Her ball striking with all her clubs has become very consistent and dependable. She rarely gets in trouble off the tee and her approach game is very good. Playing in tournaments has greatly increased her confidence and her swing, and it shows in the way she now plays a golf course.”

At Winding Creek against Central Piedmont Conference competition, seniors Krystal Davis and Annika McDaniel were Davie’s Nos. 2-3 scorers. Senior Riley Crotts had the team’s only birdie on a par-3.

The rest of Donley’s roster includes sophomore Sophia Garza and freshmen Kate Sakai and Reese Ward.

In the nonconference match at the Meadowlands, McDaniel (29), Sakai (32), Davis (34) and Crotts (34) rounded out the Davie scores. McDaniel had a birdie on a par-4.

Notes: In the CPC meet at Winding Creek, Davie finished third. Reagan shot 7-under 101, West Forsyth 113, Davie 150, Reynolds 187 and Glenn 189. Mt. Tabor and East Forsyth did not participate, meaning they had to take 216s for the day. … Davie (16-over 85) defeated Oak Grove (90) and North Davidson (121) at the Meadowlands.