Posted on Fri, May. 09, 2008

GOLF

Butler Golf | Meggs takes last shot at state title

LANGSTON WERTZ JR.

lwertz@charlotteobserver.com

MATTHEWS --

Butler High golf coach Steve Shaughnessy thinks his star senior, Daniel Meggs, has everything you need to be successful.

"He hits his irons well," Shaughnessy said. "He hits it well off the tee. And he's an excellent putter."

Meggs has won the Southwestern 4A conference championship in three of his four years in high school. Last year, he lost by one stroke.

Monday, Meggs will be in Pinehurst, trying to win a state championship. No Mecklenburg County 4A golfer has won since Independence's Per Wickman in 1992.

"That's been a goal of mine since the beginning of the year," said Meggs, who has signed with Wake Forest. "I want to win states. For the past two years, I've played well in conference and just all right in the regionals. There were always one or two holes that got me."

Meggs tied for third at Monday's N.C. 4A regional, behind Providence's Nik Peterson and Ardrey Kell's Brent Smith. Meggs started the round with a quadruple bogey, Shaughnessy said, and had two three-putts on his front nine. Then he played well on the back.

"All he needs," Shaughnessy said, "is to be on his game the whole round at the state and he'll be fine."

Meggs finished 10th in the 4A final last year. He thinks he's a different golfer now.

"I'm a little aggressive," Meggs said, "and that style tends to get me into a little trouble. But this has been my best high school year. I'm more patient and I've matured and don't try to hit shots outside my capabilities. I try to think my way around the golf course a little bit more."