FRANKLIN
After winning the VHSL 1A Conference 41 golf tournament, the Franklin High School Broncos golf team had a rough day on the course at regionals.

Head Coach Dave Lease said the Manor Golf Club in Farmville was challenging, and FHS ended up finishing in 7th place out of 8 teams.

“I am proud of the kids for getting that far as a team,” he said. “We just ran into a very tough golf course, and we have got to do a lot of work if we are going to compete on that level.”

Brandon Blythe led the way with a 160; Timothy Krieder shot a 168; Chance McCoy shot a 185; and Connor Shanks shot a 193; the total was 706. That’s almost 200 more strokes than what the team had shot at the conference tournament.

The season did see improvement, however, and all five players on the team will be returning. And two, Krieder and Jacob Geary, will be returning as seniors. Sophomore Blythe led the team this year, averaging a stroke of 56 during 9-hole TriRivers District play.

Lease said he looks to see all of his players improve, and he’ll also be looking to recruit.

“I would encourage all of them to go out and play during the offseason,” he said. “Join the country club with a junior membership, or do whatever else you can do to play.”

Still, Lease said, they went to the 1A East Regionals as a team for the first time in a few years, so he was proud and looking forward to next season.

“I think it is a step in the right direction,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us to compete on that level, but I’ve got everyone coming back next year, and I’ll get out and recruit some more.”