DUNN — Southern Wayne’s Regan Stribble can check another box on her golfing career list.
The junior is making her first-ever appearance in the NC High School Athletic Association Class 3A girls’ golf championships.
Stribble made the cut as an individual during regional play contested Monday at Chicora Country Club. The top three teams and 17 lowest-scoring individuals will tackle the challenging Longleaf Golf and Country Club layout in Southern Pines next week.
The two-day, 36-hole tournament begins Oct. 28.
“These girls have improved so much,” Southern Wayne head coach Trae McKee said. “Chloe [Sullivan], in her second year of ever really touching a golf club, to qualify for regionals is awesome. Regan making it in this year as a junior is a huge accomplishment.
“Golf is such a hard game, not only hard to play, but hard mentally. These girls have showed a lot of resilience and toughness to deal with the bad breaks and bounces, and keep coming back and trying to make another good shot or putt. It was really exciting as a coach to see their growth.”
Stribble qualified for the east regional as a freshman and sophomore. She missed the state tournament by one stroke last fall.
According to the NCHSAA, Stribble will start opening-round play grouped with Isabella Jackson (Carrboro) and Chloe Neal (Ashe County).
“If Regan can get the speed of the greens dialed in, she has a really good chance to have a good tournament,” McKee said. “Regan has a beautiful swing and a lot of power when she is squaring it up. I know she is excited and looking forward to it.”
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