The Pinecrest boys go into Tuesday’s final round of the NCHSAA 4A State Golf Championships, trailing first place Leesville Road by 20 strokes.

The 4A East Regional champion Patriots are tied for eighth place with Davie County after posting a team score of 305 at Pinehurst No. 6. Leesville Road (285) holds a five-stroke lead over second place Meyers Park (290).

Third and fourth place are occupied by Wakefield (294) and defending champion, Green Hope (298).

Zachary Martin led Patriot Coach Sandy Sackmann’s squad with a 75. The Patriot team total also included a 76 by Alex Meade and 77s by Dylan Harris and Sam Kosich. Also for the Pats, Nick Thompson shot a 78 and Josh Stockwell finished with an 82.

“That’s a big hole to crawl out of,” Sackmann said of the large deficit. “It’s going to be hard to make that up. Several of the guys shot their averages and my leaders didn’t so we have to get our numbers down tomorrow.”

The best individual score was a 3-under par 68 by Andrew Decker of J.H. Rose, playing as an individual. The only other sub-par rounds were 69’s by Ben Griffin of East Chapel Hill, Carter Jenkins of Leesville Road and Phillip Oweida of Meyers Park.

Three of the Patriots were playing in the state championships for the first time. Harris is the team’s only senior.

“It’s a good experience,” Sackmann said, “and it’s going to make us stronger for next year.”

Twelve teams and a total of 84 golfers are entered in the event. The course is set up at 6,537 yards.

Today’s tee times (first tee) for the Pinecrest golfers are: 8:20 a.m. Josh Stockwell; 8:30 Alex Meade; 8:40 Sam Kosich; 8:50 Dylan Harris; 9:00 Zachary Martin; 9:10 Nick Thompson.

Team standings: Leesville Road 285, Meyers Park 290, Wakefield 294, Green Hope 298, Ardrey Kell 300, Clayton 304, Alexander Central 304, Pinecrest 305, Davie County 305, Grimsley 308, West Forsyth 311, Hoggard 317.