SOUTHERN PINES — West Bladen’s Blake Baysden followed an opening-round 76 with a closing round of 75 on Tuesday to finish tied for 11th in the state’s Class 2-A championship tournament at Longleaf Country Club.
Baysden, one of the top golfers out of the Waccamaw Conference, was tied for 15th after the first round of play on Monday, six strokes off the pace among a field of 84.
On Tuesday, he started well, but falters on the back stretch.
“Blake played the front nine at even par 36,” said his coach, Junior Nance, “but ran into trouble again on the back side with a … 39.”
The tournament’s medalist was Taylor Coalson of North Surry, who carded a 140 on the par 71 course and won the title on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff against Alex Nianouris of Salisbury High. Clinton’s Festus Turlington took fourth with a 144.
Salisbury High won the team title with a 573, 31 strokes ahead of North Lincoln.











