James Wood, Baker heat up in third-place finish at Bryan Gunter Memorial Golf Tournament

FRONT ROYAL — If you can't remember all the holes you birdie over the course of the round, it's fair to say you've had a pretty good day.

James Wood junior Carson Baker recorded seven birdies on Tuesday at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club en route to posting a 2-over-par 74, the best score of his high school career and the lowest score among area golfers this season. Baker's two-day total of 158 was the tournament's seventh-best score overall and led the Colonels to third place out of eight teams at the 32nd annual Bryan Gunter Memorial Golf Tournament.

Baker led an effort that James Wood coach David Oates couldn't have been happier with. After posting a solid four-player score of 341 in the first round of the Gunter on Monday at the Winchester Country Club — where team scores are almost always higher than at SVGC — the Colonels posted their lowest four-player score in years with a 313 on the Red and Blue nines of SVGC.

"Today was unbelievable," said Oates on a day in which rain fell intermittently over a stretch of more than two hours during competition, occasionally falling hard. "I'm kind of numb right now. We were hoping to shoot in the 320s today — 313 is probably as good as we've been in at least maybe four, five, six years. All the kids just played to their ability."

James Wood (654) maintained its third-place standing as a result, finishing only behind Loudoun Valley (295-293—628) and Loudoun County (317-311—628). The Vikings won the tournament for the first time since 2016 and the seventh time since 2007. Led by Owen Cook (71-71—142 to win by three shots), Loudoun Valley had five of the six best two-round scores in the tournament.

Handley (349-333—682) placed fourth, Millbrook (382-358—740) took sixth and Sherando (397-363—760) was eighth.

Typically a 12-team tournament, the Gunter was scaled back this year in part because many schools are starting classes earlier this year and couldn't fit the Gunter into their schedule. James Wood coordinator of student activities Craig Woshner announced in the post-tournament ceremony that moving the Gunter to a different date next year could be a possibility.

James Wood senior Jackson Lynch (78, four strokes better than Monday's 82, 160 total to tie for ninth overall), sophomore Luke Davis (80, 93 on Monday, 173 total) and senior Ethan Russell (81, 87 on Monday, 168 total) factored along with Baker into Tuesday's score.

Baker felt like he played well on Monday, but two rough holes elevated his score at WCC. Baker needed eight strokes to navigate the par-5 13th, and he had a six on the par-3 eighth hole.

"I was hitting the ball pretty well," Baker said.

In Tuesday's shotgun start, Baker started off strong with a birdie on his first hole, the 449-yard, par-5 Red No. 9. The other birdies he could remember came on No. 9 Blue (par-5) and Nos. 1 (par-4), 3 (par-3), 4 (par-5) and 8 (par-4) Red.

Baker managed his career-best score despite recording double bogeys on Blue Nos. 4 and 7, both par-4s.

"Wedges," said Baker when asked about his strengths on Tuesday. "I was hitting them pretty close. [Most of my birdies] were within 10 feet."

Baker did make one long birdie putt — he finished his day with a 40-footer on Red No. 8.

Much like his teammate Lynch — who has bested his season stroke average from last year in all four of his rounds this year — Baker said the mental side of golf is where he's improved the most this year.

"I'm not getting as angry [this year]," Baker said. "That's what was holding me back the last two years."

Oates said Baker was fun to watch on Tuesday.

"He was absolutely killing it off the tee," Oates said. "He was hitting the ball so far today, and that set up opportunities. And he stayed patient. He kept within himself and focused and put it all together. It was really great."

Oates was also pleased with Davis' play. Last year, Oates said Davis was typically shooting mid-90s to 100.

"You can really tell he's worked on his game," Oates said.

Lynch progressed throughout the tournament. On Monday at WCC, he shot 6-over on the front nine and a 4-over on the back. On Tuesday, he shot his best round of the young season despite starting off with consecutive bogeys after starting off on Blue No. 1.

"I definitely left a lot of stokes out there," Lynch said. "I missed the greens on the first few holes, missed some birdie putts, had a couple three-putts. I had a lot of good drives today though."

Lynch did birdie his last hole to beat his season-best by one stroke. On Red No. 9, Lynch hit his drive under a tree but was able to keep his second shot underneath a branch and land it on the fringe of the green. He then putted twice to finish off the hole.

Handley recorded its best four-player score in the three-year tenure of coach Troy Mezzatesta on Tuesday. The Judges' four counting scores came from Cody Williams (83, 85 Monday, 168 total), Jack Thome (81, 89 Monday, 170 total), Braxton Duvall (85, 87 Monday, 172 total) and Brennan Smith (84, 88 Monday, 172 total).