Wyatt Simmons in the NCHSAA 1A Men’s State Golf Championship

By Brandon Stephens

(Southern Pines, NC) – – Wyatt Simmons is in the state golf tournament in Southern Pines with 83 other 1-A golfers from high schools all over North Carolina.  The closest school in the mountain region is Mitchell, who sent three golfers.

“Not the Best Golf” is how the Murphy Bulldogs would characterize play in 1A West Regionals. “Not of us really played that well (in the Regionals).  We all struggled in our own way.  I couldn’t make a play (then) to save my life.  I just scratched it around and made it on (the state tournament).  We were all disappointed on how we played,” Wyatt Simmons described the regional performance by Murphy.

Lift your head high and do well at the state tournament.  Pinehurst has a network of golf courses, most known as Pinehurst 1-9 and some affiliated courses nearby.  Either way, these courses are not typically the easiest places to swing the crooked stick.  Wyatt Simmons remains optimistic on playing well.  “Not the easiest course. But I am still striking it (the ball) well.  I am hoping I can put better and post better scores at the state (tournament),” Wyatt stated this week. Wyatt Simmons interview can we viewed at the link in this article.

Murphy Golf Coach Watson says the Longleaf course is challenging. “It is tough.  It’s a different style of course than what we play. There are a lot of waste areas off the fairways. That is going to be different for him. It is going to be a lot longer than we usually play. The greens will be a lot faster. It is a different type of grass. It’s all Bermuda (grass). It will give a little adjusting to get used to,” Coach Watson explained.

There is a good sense of pride and accomplishment when five Murphy Golfers reached the regionals, and one makes the state tournament. “Our guys that made it to the regionals wished they could have played better golf, but you know that is the way golf is. Some days you have it, some days you don’t. We are really excited about Wyatt advancing to the state championship. We are getting some good practice in this week,” Coach Watson continued. Coach Joseph Watson’s comments can be viewed at the link in this article.

The last Murphy Bulldog to make the state tournament was Trevor Shaw in 2019. Wyatt was paired with Finley Church (Gray Stone Day), and Joseph Rose (Hobbton). Their flight took the tee box on hole 10 at Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines (Longleaf Golf & Family Club).

Results and Pairings for the state tournament will be at the NCHSAA website 1A Men’s State Golf Championship .