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They’re one step closer to the goal. On Tuesday, Sept. 24, the Randolph-Henry golf team cruised to a first place finish at the district tournament. Having locked up the regular season district title on Sept. 12, the Statesmen shot a collective 335 this time en route to the tournament win. To put that in perspective, the closest team was Nottoway High at 349, with Central High at 364, Prince Edward at 373 and Buckingham rounding out the top five at 376. 

To anyone who’s followed the Randolph-Henry team this year, it should come as no surprise that four Statesmen made the All-District team. The names who show up on that list should be familiar as well. They include Parker Allen, Raegan Barton, Liam Hottle and Caden Powell. 

Statesmen Coach Eddie Pyle said it was a challenge, both dealing with the weather and how that affected the course at The Manor in Farmville. 

“(It was) a great win (in) very tough conditions,” Pyle said. “(It) poured down rain at the beginning. Rain eventually let up but then it was a pesky mist all day. Very proud of the team!” 

But as we said, this win brought them one step closer to the goal. At the beginning of the year, the team laid out a couple goals. Winning the regular season title and the district tournament championship was part of the process. That earns the Statesmen a spot in the regional tournament, which takes place September 30 at Sleepy Hole Golf Course in Suffolk. Winning that or finishing second would bring them to their goal, which is landing a spot in the state tournament. A team has to finish first or second in regionals to get in. 

And so that’s what the Randolph-Henry golf team is focused on. As long as the weather cooperates, the team will head down to Suffolk on Sunday, Sept. 29 for a practice round. Then they’ll get ready for the regionals to begin next Monday.