AHOSKIE – Northeast Academy senior Ryan Davis took home Player of the Year honors at the Tarheel Independent Conference (TIC) tournament Wednesday afternoon, narrowly beating out teammate Drew Pinnix for the award.

Davis finished the season with a 72.6 stroke average, just two-tenths under Pinnix’s 72.8 season average. TIC Conference President Elton Winslow presented the Medalist Cup to Davis, who also won the award in 2005.

In addition to Davis, Pinnix, Hobgood’s David Vanderford and Greg Warren, Northeast’s Justin Barnes and Derek Joyner of Terra Ceia were named to the All-Conference team.

Northeast entered the tournament as regular season champions with a 6-0 record, but Hobgood handed the Eagles their first loss of the season, winning by six strokes to take the tournament championship.

“Hobgood played well today,” said Pinnix. “We didn’t play our best golf.

A couple of breaks, a couple of putts and my score could have been a 68 instead of 72.”

Pinnix shot an even par 72 on the day, taking second place in the tournament.

Joyner shot a 64 and was named the tournament medalist.

Davis and Vanderford tied for third with a 73 while Albemarle’s Beau Thompson shot a 75 to round out the top five.

“Unfortunately, we played our worst golf at the conference tournament, but overall we’ve had a successful year as our record shows,” said Eagles Head Coach Scott Emory after his team was awarded the regular season championship trophy.

Teams field up to six golfers and the top four individual scores were combined for the team score. Davis, Pinnix, Parker Brown and Justin Barnes combined for a score of 320, 10 strokes ahead of Lawrence Academy.

“I like to see golfers getting better over the season,” said Emory.

“Parker (Brown) shot his best round of golf ever today.”

The junior finished the course with an 84.

Lawrence was led by senior Marshall Ellis who shot a 76. Ellis received All-Conference honorable mention honors and was awarded the Sportsmanship Award.

Northeast Academy entered the tournament ranked fourth in the state for 1-A schools in the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association and will be heading to Southern Pines on May 14 and 15 to play for their second state title.

Fifth-seeded Terra Ceia and sixth-seed Hobgood will also represent the TIC at the state playoffs.

“This loss needs to be our inspiration going into states,” said Pinnix.

There are 116 golfers ranked in 1-A and four of the top five are from the TIC.

Joyner holds the top spot, followed by Davis and Pinnix.

Vanderford holds the fifth seed.

In addition to the three schools, several schools not advancing will be sending players to Southern Pines.

State rules dictate the top ten golfers that are not on a team advancing to the state tournament will be able to compete as individuals.

Ridgecroft’s Win Joyner, ranked twenty-second, and seventh grader Virginia Lane, who led the Rams with an 88, will both be traveling to Southern Pines. Both were named to the All Conference Honorable Mention team.

Ellis and Randy Davenport are in for Lawrence, with one player still on the bubble.