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TURNABOUT'S FAIRPLAY ON FAIRWAY

Eastern Tech's Dustin Peddicord and Milford Mill's Devonne Richardson won the boys and girls district six golf qualifyer, beating out Baltimore County champs, Greg Bowman and Carolyn Chandler, respectively, of Catonsville and Dulaney.


by Joe DiBlasi

Dustin Peddicord, a senior at Eastern Teach, fired a three-over 73 today at the Longview Golf Course in Timonium to finish first in the boys Division of the Baltimore County District Six qualifying round for the Sate Championships, which will be held in two weeks in College Park.

 Peddicord, a left-hander, finished one stroke ahead of Catonsville's Greg Bowman, and Pikesvilles' Sam Oshire. Bowman bested Peddicord by one stroke two weeks ago at Diamond Ridge, where he captured the Baltimore County Individual Championship.

In this event at Longview, Bowman's 74 was equaled by Pikesville's Sam Oshire. Oshire finished in second place though on the strength of the tiebreaker rule.

 In the event of a tie for the runner-up spot, the best score of the golfers involved on the #1 handicap-hole on this course is used to decide second place.  Oshire had a par on Longview's most difficult hole ( # 4, a tough 415 yard par 4); Bowman bogied that hole, so he finishes
third.

"Today I hit the ball well. I hit the cup on the third hole with a pitching edge from about 145 yards, but the ball bounced out," said Peddicord, who played in Bowman's group. Had that eagle landed, Peddicord's margin of victory would have been much greater.

Peddicord is the nephew of former local golf pro, Chris Peddicord, who worked at Woodmont, Sparrows Point and Night Hawk golf courses.

Chris Peddicord, a Mid-Atlantic Champion in the 1980s, now resides in Palm City, Fla.

A scratch golfer, who averages 280 off the tee,  Peddicord has a career low round of three-under (68) at Rocky Point.

"I'd like to play golf at North Carolina next year," said Peddicord. "If all goes well."
Bowman blamed his one shot finish behind Peddicord to poor putting.

" I had three 3-putts today, and that is usually one of my strengths," said Bowman, who shot 3-over in his championship win at Diamond Ridge, which he thought played a little tougher than Longview. "I'll be chipping and putting a lot to get ready for the State Championship."

Bowman's lowest career round is a one-under par 70 at Meadows Farms in Virginia. He's looking at Methodist College in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
 
Sam Oshire, only a sophomore at Pikesville, won the tie-breaker-hole that gave him sole possession of second place.

"I hit a pretty good drive and hit a gap-wedge on to the green and two-putted from thirty feet on that hole," Oshire said.

"I three-putted the last hole [ a par three] after missing a 30 foot birdie putt," Oshire said. "But I'm happy, because I'm going to the state tournament, and that was my objective today".
Eastern Tech's Dustin Peddicord earned first place in Baltimore County's District Six Golf qualifyer; Sam Oshire of Pikesville edged county champ Greg Bowman of Catonsville for third place
 
The girls No. 1 finisher was Devonne Richardson of Milford Mill, who had an 83.

"Coming in I didn't think that 83 would be good enough for first place," said Richardson.  "I just wanted to make it to the State tournament."

Richardson was a little surprised that the 83 was good enough for first place over Carolyn Chandler's 84.

Dulaney's Chandler played in a different group, and neither player knew where they finished until they turned in their scorecards.

"I just wanted to qualify," Richardson said. "So whether I'm first or second really doesn't matter that much."

Both girls were excited to make it to the state tourney.