By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
The approach for Southern Alamance senior Riley Bush in high school golf stems around making things as smooth as possible.
“Just practicing the mental game and believing in yourself,” Bush said.
That has largely worked out as one of the area’s top girls’ golfers.
Williams junior Gabriella Moorehead is right there with Bush. She said reducing stress is critical as well.
“Just being out there and having fun with my opponents,” Moorehead said.
Bush shot 4-over-par 76 for the best score in last week’s conference-ending outing at Quaker Creek Golf Course. She credited being on spot with her short game as making a difference.
“And having a great time with my group,” she said.
Bush and Moorehead, who ended up with 80 at Quaker Creek, tied for season-long individual top honors in conference competition. With six nine-hole rounds and one 18-hole event, they posted 300. Third place went to Williams’ Debbie Monahan (313), followed by Western Alamance’s Ashtyn Whitfield (342), and Southern’s Eva Grace Robinson (348).
Williams was the season-long team champion, with a 64-stroke margin on runner-up Southern. Western was third, followed by Southeast Alamance, Eastern Alamance, Roxboro Person ,and Graham.
Bush’s round at Quaker Creek included birdies on Nos. 1, 9, and 13.
“I’m trying to have fun no matter what,” Bush said.
In regionals later this month, Bush will aim to reach the state tournament for the third time.
“It seems like the last couple of years she has really shined,” Southern coach Michael Park said.
Bush, 17, doesn’t have a home course, but considers The Challenge Golf Club as one of her regular stops. Golf is her lone sport at Southern, and she’s exploring college options that include golf.
Bush said she knows everything won’t work out perfectly during a round, but she often “takes slow, deep breaths” to help her focus. She was a Class 3-A regional co-medalist last fall.
Moorehead was the individual champion last year in the former Central 3-A Conference before placing third in the Class 3-A state tournament.
“Her and Riley have been back and forth all year,” Williams coach Mike Pennington said.
Moorehead, who plays out of Stoney Creek Golf Club, said she takes solace in that she played well for most of the season, including posting 34 at Caswell Pines Golf Club. There’s also the extra benefit of “about the part that we actually had a team this year.”
Entering the postseason, she’s looking to shore up her putting stroke.
“(The goal is) keeping my attitude together as long as I keep pushing myself,” Moorehead said.
