Broughton 'Four-Peats' As 4-A Champs

"First goal was to win the fourth straight (state title), second goal was to break the record and have it be under par and the third thing was to win by 35," Broughton coach Phil Ratliff said.

Broughton accomplished all of its goals. In winning an unprecedented fourth straight state title, the Caps bettered their own previous state scoring mark of 580 set in '98, finishing at 7-under 569. Green Hope High finished third at 620.

Also, the Caps won by 48 shots over Winston-Salem Reynolds High. "Broughton's just in a class by themselves," Reynolds coach Howard West said. "Top to bottom ? the depth is so good. It's not just four or five (players), it's six and I understand there's more at home that probably could be competing on a lot of the teams that are out here."

Rand Williams helped his and Broughton's cause by winning state individual honors. Williams opened with a 6-under 66 on Monday, then finished with a 2-under 70 for an 8-under 136 total to win by three strokes over Andrew Lewis of Reynolds.

Williams, a senior, was one shot back of Charlotte Independence High's Russell Killough, who shot a state record 65 on Monday, beginning the final round. And while Williams was steady, Killough went out in 3-over 39 and ballooned to a 77, finishing in third place.

"It was a definitely a goal I had set for myself coming into it," Williams said. "I really felt good about my entire game and was real happy to play solid golf for 36-holes. That's been my problem, I can't put two rounds together and I finally did it this week."

Though Broughton won the three previous state championships, the Caps did not have an individual titleist during that timespan.

Williams' win puts him in an elite list of Broughton golfers who have won both the state and individual title in the same year. Williams joins current PGA Tour veteran Scott Hoch (1973) and Wes Minton (1974).

Broughton will lose four of its starting six on this year's championship squad. Williams will attend College of Charleston, James Morgan is headed to East Carolina, Ward Marslender is going to North Carolina and Perry Blake will attend the David Ledbetter Academy.

Playing in the same threesome with Williams was Andrew Lewis of Reynolds. Lewis fired a season-low 6-under 66 Tuesday and finished second with a 5-under 139 total. Lewis started the championship with a quadruple bogey on the first hole, but for the remaining 35 holes was 10 under.

Defending champion Brendan Todd of Green Hope High finished ninth at 4-over 148.

Alex Miceli, Golf Press Association for iHigh