E.C. Glass' Harrison Scharf fires area-low 77 at Heritage Invitational; Cave Spring first overall

Harrison Scharf missed E.C. Glass’ first two Seminole District meets last week while he and his family vacationed in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

But he wasn’t being a beach bum, or spending all of his time surfing.

Instead, he was busy trying to avoid sand traps while playing a couple of the more challenging courses in that area.

Monday at the 15th annual Heritage Invitational at London Downs Golf Club, Scharf showed off the results of his practice, shooting a 77 to lead the Hilltoppers to a seventh-place finish (320) in a strong 24-team field.

On a day when temperatures hovered in the high-90s, and players savored an occasional breeze off of a water hazard, Cave Spring was the overall team champion, finishing at 302.

James River, paced by medalist Korey Watts (71), was runner-up at 309 followed by Mills Godwin (312), Bassett (313), Franklin County (316) and Salem (318).

Among other local teams, Rustburg (326) placed eighth followed by Jefferson Forest (328).

Scharf’s individual score — the lowest among area players — came despite a triple bogey and two double-bogeys on the back nine.

“On No. 10, I went out of bounds and in the water,” Scharf said. “I kind of pulled it around and shanked a couple shots.”

On the front nine, he shot an even-par 36 with birdies on Nos. 5 and 6.

“I was hitting the ball really well today,” Scharf said. “I was hitting the greens and putting pretty well.”

Teammate Nate Buhler had a near reversal of fortune, carding two double-bogeys and firing a 42 on the front nine before settling down after a 30-minute lightning delay and finishing with a 79.

“I got refocused and started hitting better after that,” Buhler said. “I found a little more of a swing.”

His drives were long, but not particularly straight.

“I was left, right, left, right, but on 17, I killed a drive right over the trees,” he said.

However, after sinking a birdie on No. 15, he missed a six-foot putt for birdie on 17, winding up with a bogey instead.

“I three-putted from six feet,” he said.

But he recovered with a solid drive over the water and a beautiful uphill approach shot on No. 18 that landed within two feet of the hole for an easy birdie putt.

“I felt I could have done a little better,” Buhler said. “It was not my best round of golf, but I’m pleased with the way I ended it, with a nice shot on 18.”

Jefferson Forest (980) still leads the Seminole District standings after the third of seven 18-hole matches between the seven teams, followed closely by Rustburg (986) and Glass (992).

George McDaniel shot the low score for the Cavaliers with his 79.

“I was doing everything good except for putting,” he said after dueling back and forth with Buhler throughout the day. “We were pretty even.”

Rustburg freshman Clayton Forrer also managed a 79 despite having a hard time with his putter.

“I was hitting the ball good, but putting was a struggle,” Forrer said. “I could have dropped a couple strokes if I’d made some putts. It was just an OK round, nothing horrible but nothing spectacular.”

McDaniel said he enjoys the new district format, with seven head-to-head full-course meets rather than one invitational and six nine-hole dual and tri-matches determining the regular-season champion.

“I like the 18-hole matches, but wish they weren’t so close together,” he said. “We’ll be pretty much done with the district (regular season) next week.”

The champions of the regular season and district tournament, set for Sept. 21 at Colonial Hills (E.C. Glass’ home course) will qualify for the Region III event.