Broughton High junior Bill Marlowe reached a level beyond sensational Monday as he romped around a hard-to-manage Anderson Creek Golf Club course in Spring Lake to post a 7-under-par 65 and easily win the state 4-A Mid-East golf regional.
Marlowe's superb round propelled the Caps, the Cap Seven 4-A runner-up behind Leesville Road, to a four-stroke victory over their league rival.
Green Hope also qualified for next week's N.C. High School Athletic Association 4-A two-day championships with a 300. The 2009 state titlists were led by 2009 individual champ Michael Cromie, who was second behind Marlowe with a 2-under 70.
The regional had some of the top high school golfers in the state, including Leesville Road sophomore Grayson Murray (73), but nobody came close to Marlowe, who made seven birdies and no bogeys.
He dropped a 57-foot birdie putt on No. 8 and was 6 under after 11 holes on a course that was set up to test golfing skills and separate the really good from the good.
"As unbelievable as it sounds, Bill could have been a few strokes better," Caps coach Dave Rose said. "He had some two- or three-inch tap-ins."
Marlowe hit his driver only twice and continually set up his next shot with placement.
On the long birdie putt, Marlowe said, "It was a bomb. I was just trying to get it close, and it kept curving and curving and dropped."
The 65 was a career best for Marlowe, who shot a nine-hole 5-under 31 last week in a league match at TPC Wakefield.
"I really didn't think about my score," Marlowe said. "I knew I had made some birdies, but I wasn't counting up my score or anything. I tried to concentrate on each shot and stay in the moment."
Marlowe has played among the Caps' top three all season, but he said he started the season slowly and only recently started swinging well.
His round was the biggest difference between Broughton and Leesville Road, a couple of teams that battled throughout the season. The Pride edged Broughton by four strokes after the seven-match regular season.
"Leesville is very good, and it playing so well was one of the best things that could have happened to us," Rose said. "We had to get better, and we did."
Rose has coached the Caps for four seasons and said the team's 288 was 15 strokes better than any regional effort during his tenure.
Sophomore George Kilgore shot a 71, Richard Fountain had a 75, and Cyrus Stewart finished with a 77.
"We've been close to Leesville all season, but they always seemed to have someone put up a great sub-par round," Rose said. "Today, we did."
Marlowe said he is excited about next week's state championships but is glad the first round of the finals is Monday.
"I don't know if I could top the 65 tomorrow," he said.
