GREENVILLE — David Watkins will tee it up again as a member of the East Carolina golf team.
The former Richmond Senior standout helped the Pirates finished second in last week’s Athens Regional behind Alabama to secure their first-ever berth in the NCAA Championship beginning Tuesday at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
“This is a great moment for East Carolina golf,” ECU coach Press McPhaul said. “It’s the affirmation of dreaming, hard work and sacrifice that began several years ago.
“The goal has never been to to merely make it to the finals, but to go with the mindset to compete and play to win. That’s how we intended to represent East Carolina University.”
Watkins, who has competed in 48 consecutive events for the Pirates in his career, fired an 11-over 224 in the regional competition at the University of Georgia Golf Course.
Ryan Eibner was ECU’s low scorer. He finished tied for fourth at 3-under 210. Harold Varner finished tied for 12th at par-213, while Adam Stephenson carded a 4-over 217 to tie for 21st. Sophomore Zach Edmondson finished tied for 29th at 6-over 219.
East Carolina is slated to begin the tournament from the No. 1 tee at 7:50 a.m. Tuesday. The Pirates are matched with golfers from Oklahoma and Illinois.
— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@heartlandpublications.com
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