First Posted: 7/20/2012
LUMBERTON Last year during the opening day of the Robeson County Golf Championship, seven-time winner Kyle Covington shanked his first tee shot out of bounds.
Two days later, despite carding a 7-under-par on the final day, Covingtons reign of five straight county championships was halted by first-time winner Ian Locklear who finished a stroke ahead at 8 under.
Covingtons initial errant drive by no means ended his chances of winning county title No. 8, but it certainly didnt give him the start he wanted.
That threw a wrench in my nerves, Covington said. Friday (the first day of the RCGC) youre a little bit anxious to get out there I used to get nervous every day (of the tournament) but you kind of get used to it.
Covington is hoping level nerves, straight tee shots and clutch putts lead him back to the winners circle this weekend at the 32nd annual 2012 Robeson County Golf Championship, sponsored by Dial Insurance Agency out of Pembroke. The three-day Championship Division tees off Friday and runs through Sunday at Pinecrest Country Club.
He knows it wont be an easy task.
Afterall, Locklear, a Purnell Swett High School graduate who is now a rising junior on The University of North Carolina at Pembroke mens golf team, is fit to defend his crown. Scott Benton, a four-time winner who claimed three straight RCGC titles from 1990 to 1992, will be in the fold. As will Dyrck Fanning, a five-time champ.
Other regulars who could threaten to top the Dial Insurance Robeson County Golf Championship leaderboard include Wishart, Mark Lassiter, Tommy Britt, Stephen Pippin, Ryan Bass, Brad Locklear, David Locklear, Yarnell Locklear and Bobby Campbell.
Reigning champ Ian Locklear, entering his fourth RCGC, is hoping hell have the field in his rearview come Sunday, unlike last summer when he trailed by six strokes entering the final 18 holes. He went on to post a 5-under 67 on the final day to keep in front of Fanning and Covington for the county bragging rights.
Coming into the last day of the tourament last year, I was playing with (then-leader) Dyrck Fanning and I had him on his heels, I went up and tied him after nine holes, Locklear said. It was just all the momentum was going my way that day. I was doing my best and its just the way things turned out.
Whether its Locklear, Covington, Fanning or Benton leading the pack this weekend, anything can happen the final day at Pinecrest.
And like Ian Locklear a year ago, theres the potential of a first-time winner waiting in the weeds or perhaps more fittingly, on the greens.
Youve had a lot of different people getting into the mix over the years, Covington said. It makes it a lot of fun.
Reach Sports editor Kaleb Roedel at 910-272-6111 or [email protected]
