NASHVILLE — Of the Wendell and Zebulon golfers in the Eastern North Carolina Junior Golf League only three made it to the regional tournament that took place last Tuesday at Birchwood Country Club. All three were from Zebulon.

Eric Inscore was the only clubber to place in the event, firing a 77 for third in the 16- to 18-year-old age group. William Lewis shot a nine-hole 43 in the 12-13 boys and Neville Burton posted an 18-hole 82 in the 14-15 group.

Zebulon coach and clinic teacher Rocky Winstead said both Burton and Lewis played most of their regional rounds from the rough, and with the rules of the game being implemented to the fullest in the tournament atmosphere it called for some tough shots and sticky situations.

“They missed fairways and because of that they were missing greens,” Winstead said. “You just can't do that and shoot a low round on the golf course.”

Winstead mentioned the highly-talented golfers that made it to the regionals upped the competition compared to the level of play seen within the division, but overall he was pleased with his group's performance.

“We finished second on the season by two points,” Winstead said. “That's outstanding.”

He went on to say his golfers' skills have expanded a great deal in the time they've played for the team. Four of the golfers in the 11-12 age group were first timers this season and they competed in every tournament over the summer.

His hope for the future is for the younger golfers to continue to pick up the sticks even though the summer season has ended. He said the time to get kids hooked on the sport is when they're 11 or 12 – when they get too much older they're off doing other things.

Winstead is planning to hold a nine-hole tournament for those younger golfers at some point in the future as part of promoting the game, which he promotes day-in, day-out. His Thursday afternoon clinics at Zebulon Country Club will run through the end of August when school kicks into gear.