Thick fog blanketed Mountain Glen Golf Club in Newland on Monday morning. When Alex Torres and her Franklin teammates teed off at 9 a.m., they could only see about 50-75 yards in front of them, which made tracking tee shots extremely difficult.
“We sometimes couldn’t find them because no one was there and saw where it would land since the fog was so thick,” Torres said.
The fog lifted after a few holes, but a cold wind of about 15 mph blew steadily all day. For an abnormally hot fall, it was a shocker to the golfers who qualified to play in the 1-A/2-A West Regional.
Torres managed to shoot a very good round despite the abnormal conditions. She carded a 92, which tied for 11th overall. Most importantly, her score was tied for ninth among individuals not on advancing teams, with the top 17 qualifying for state.
“I was pretty happy,” Torres said. “I usually cut it pretty close at regionals because of the hype of it, and it being so pressured, I usually don’t shoot very good. But I think the conditions made me concentrate more and that’s how I came out with a lower score.”
Torres is a senior who has qualified for the NCHSAA Championship three times, which ties Erin Campbell for the most in school history. Torres will actually be the first FHS player to compete at state three times, because Campbell withdrew the day before state her junior year after her grandmother died.
FHS coach Felicia Nidiffer, along with her husband and assistant coach, Mitch, each work on different things with Torres. She was dialed in during Monday’s round.
“Her irons were clued in,” Nidiffer said. “Her putting, short game, they were clued in, which is especially impressive not knowing the course, which has greens bigger than Mill Creek and had more undulation.”
Franklin juniors Olivia Stahl and Shea Jones also competed at regional but finished back in the pack. It was Stahl’s third time competing at regional and Jones’ first after she began playing the sport over the summer.
To qualify for regional, golfers must posses an average a score of 55 or better. Torres averaged a 43.8, Stahl a 45.8 and Jones a 54.2.
A notable distinction between regular season matches and regional is the maximum score. During the regular season, players are typically permitted to take a max of a triple bogey. At regional, everyone must finish the hole with no max score.
Having a really high score or a bad hole wasn’t an issue for Torres.
“I was putting really well and I was chipping really well,” she said. “Everything worked out for me I guess you could say. Sometimes you just have a good day.”
Most golfers carry woods, hybrids or long irons to bridge gaps in distances.
Not Torres.
She hits a driver off the tee or a 6-iron. She tried hitting a hybrid and woods as a freshman but never got comfortable with them. She carries 3-, 4-, and 5-irons in her bag but never uses them.
Torres just hits her 6-iron and doesn’t worry if she can’t quite reach the green.
“She can nail that 6-iron,” Nidiffer said.
Torres’s mother is Angela Torres, who has never seen her daughter play a competitive nine holes. That’s because Alex Torres wants it that way. She prefers not having anyone watching her, including her coaches.
“Yeah, not having pressure, so you can just think about what you’re doing not who’s watching you,” Torres said.
The NCHSAA Championship will be played Oct. 28-29 Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines. It’s a par 72 for women (typically a par 71 for me) and will play to a length of 5,215 yards.
Torres’ two previous trips to state were contested at Foxfire, which Nidiffer and Torres said wasn’t in great condition either time.
“I’m excited to play a different course,” Torres said.
Torres finished 72nd as a freshman in 2016. She didn’t quality as a sophomore, then placed 67th last year.
Her primary goal is to improve once again.
“Just go out there and shoot as best as I can and hopefully it’s up there pretty high,” she said.
Torres plans on attending Western Carolina University and studying physical therapy. Although she isn’t planning on playing golf collegiately, she’s open to that possibility.
“If anything comes out of going to state and any colleges look at me,” Torres said, “I’m willing to consider it and keep an open mind about it.”