R.E. Lee captures 2nd district title

By Corine Gatti

Published: September 23, 2008

STAUNTON — R.E. Lee captured the Southern Valley District Golf Championship at Gypsy Hill Park on Tuesday afternoon.

It was the second straight year that the Leemen carried the hardware home.

“We were the regular season champs and we were the tournament champs last year. It was a goal for us again, obviously,” Lee coach Jarrett Hatcher said. “Our goal was to win the regular season and get back to the regionals and we accomplished it. We are very pleased to be there.”

Fort Defiance’s Robert Hannah was the individual champion, shooting a 71.

The Leemen were led by three juniors — Tommy Price, Tom Tattersall and Travis Dull.

Price had 73 strokes, Tattersall carded a 74 and Dull finished with a 78.

“This was just reassurance of all the work we did in the last two years,” Tattersall said. “It’s going to be comfortable going home knowing that my car is a lot heavier than it really is.”

Since Lee already had locked up a regional tourney spot after winning the regular season, taking the district championship gave the team an extra shot of adrenaline for the grand prize.

“This was just for pride,” said Tattersall, whose team finished with 311 strokes. “All the stuff people said and all the doubts we had, this right here is our reassurance.”

The trio from Lee also made the All-District team.

“This just shows how dominant our team is compared to everyone else,” Dull said. “We had four of the top six on our team.”

Fort Defiance tied Rockbridge with 321, but earned the tie-breaker to take the second Region III berth. Waynesboro finished fourth with 349 and Stuarts Draft came in fifth with 425.

“Your success is incumbent upon the kids that you are coaching,” Hatcher said. “For us to win, there is very minimal that I do during a course of a round. I’m very proud for the kids.”