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19Britt golf A strong finish in this year’s North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A golf tournament by Jack Britt and the pending return of sophomore sisters Mckenzie and Mckayla Daffin has the future of Buc girls golf looking bright.

Britt finished tied for fourth with Cardinal Gibbons High School in this year’s two-day 4-A tournament held last month at Pinehurst No. 3.

With only the Daffin sisters and senior Angelique Seymour qualifying for the state tournament from Britt, all three scores counted toward the team total each day of the tournament.

Britt posted the best score of any team in the state finals with only three players participating: 490.

Mckenzie led the way, shooting 78-80-150. Seymour recorded 84-81-165, and Makayla shot 84-83-167.

The performance didn’t surprise Britt golf coach Ray Musselwhite. “I felt we had the potential to go further than we’d ever gone before,’’ he said. “We beat Pinecrest for the first time (in a regular season match) and qualified four girls back to the regionals.’’

Musselwhite was especially impressed with the play of Mckenzie Daffin. “She battled through a swing change and was struggling a bit at midseason with the consistency she wanted,” he said.

He praised Seymour for surviving her first experience facing the strong level of competition in the state tournament. “I can’t say enough about how she performed, especially on day two, picking up strokes and battling down the stretch,’’ he said.

Seymour, who picked up golf about four years ago, said she’s gotten a few college offers and is seriously considering one from Belmont Abbey. “I’m thinking about going there and studying biology,’’ she said. “I might go to a larger school and play as a walk-on.’’

Mckayla picked up strokes the second day and also improved her overall play.

What’s most impressive about the success of the Britt team is the Daffin sisters have only been playing golf a few years.

Seymour said the Daffin sisters weren’t looking ahead of what was in front of them in the state finals. “By the time they are seniors, they should be state champion contenders,’’ Musselwhite said.

Looking ahead, Mckenzie likes her driver and iron play but wants to work on her short game. “I’d like to see my putts come down and to save more strokes with chipping,’’ she said. “I want to become more accurate with my clubs and irons.’’

Mckayla added 20 yards to her drives this year but wants to improve her irons and chipping. “By the end of next year, I’d like to be shooting around mid- 70s or lower,’’ she said. “I’m definitely going to put the work in to make it possible.’’

Photo:  L-R: Mckayla Daffin, Angelique Seymour, Mckenzie Daffin