Sherando Golfers Take 3rd At Licklider

Posted: August 8, 2014
By ROBERT NIEDZWIECKI
The Winchester Star

FRONT ROYAL — Sherando might not be in the top spot yet, but it’s occupying some pretty “deluxe” positions at these early season golf tournaments.

“We’re the Jeffersons,” said Warriors coach Rob Wright, referencing the television sitcom that ran from 1975-85. “We’re ‘movin’ on up’ all the time.”

One day after improving on their stroke total by 22 and moving up three places in the team standings from 2013 at the Spotswood Invitational, Sherando improved by 16 strokes and two spots in the team standings Thursday from 2013 at the Curly Licklider Invitational at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club.

With all three of SVGC’s nine-hole courses in use for the 27-hole tournament, Sherando shot a four-player score of 467 to take third, barely missing out on grabbing one of the two team awards that were doled out. Loudoun County took first with a 455, and Tuscarora edged the Warriors for second with a 465.

Wright said while the players were disappointed not to take home a reminder in trophy form of their effort, the markings in the scorebook will do nicely.

For Sherando, comparing scoring to last year carries a little more meaning because the Warriors didn’t have a single senior on last year’s team, and they return their entire top six.

Sophomore Brett Loy — The Winchester Star’s Golfer of the Year in 2013 — led the way with a 1-over par 108 to take fourth overall. Of the scoring golfers, Loy was one stroke better than last year, sophomore Jonah Pearson (116) was 13 shots better, junior Josh Hogue (117) was two shots better, and junior Mason Scott (126) was five shots better.

“The last couple holes for a number of them got them. They lost a few strokes,” Wright said. “But they really played well.

“We were so young last year, and we’re still growing. Most of them improved from what they shot last year, so improving on our place and our stroke totals are the positive things we can build on. Our goal this year is to get better as the year goes on, and with the same team and basically the same schedule, it’s easy to compare to what we did last year and see our progress.”

Though the Warriors were playing on their home course, they showed how tough they’ll be in the Northwestern District by finishing 38 shots in front of the next best district team in James Wood, which tied for 10th in the 19-team field with a 505. Millbrook was 13th (517), Handley was 15th (555) and Skyline was 17th (561). Also locally, Clarke County finished 16th (556).

Though Loy’s showing was definitely a strong one, his high expectations for himself left him displeased after his round. Loy had three birdies and four bogeys.

“I just didn’t really have a lot of feel, so there was some awkward situations,” Loy said. “I’ve been struggling [on this course] lately a little bit, but I was starting to get back, shooting some 60s and low-70s.”

Loy — who was just 5-foot-5 and 95 pounds in December but has grown a bit to 5-8, 105 — said he definitely feels good about his game overall. His offseason was highlighted by a victory in May on the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour at the University of Maryland Golf Club.

“I’ve gained a lot of distance, and my iron play has improved a lot,” Loy said.

James Wood senior Roger Repasky — last year’s Conference 21 champion and a state qualifier two years ago — felt much better about his performance after shooting a 113, because at last year’s Licklider he finished with a 119.

“I’m in a better place this year than I was last year,” said Repasky, who tied for ninth overall. “I’ve been working hard, and I guess I showed some of that today. My short game’s a lot better, my putting in particular.

“My key today was just to keep the ball in play and give myself a shot to make birdies. Land it on the green and two-putt.”

For James Wood, Hunter Hall also posted a strong score with a 120, the fifth-best score among the five local schools. No one else for the Colonels shot better than a 134, but given the fact that only Repasky and Hall have significant varsity experience James Wood coach David Oates said Thursday’s performance was what he was expecting.

“Roger had a good day, Hunter had a decent day, and my players three through six have a grand total of nine holes of high school play, so I have kids out there for the first time,” Oates said. “We’ll take [this performance] given where we are right now as a team.”

As for the rest of the local teams, Millbrook was led by Brian McGuire (121) and Andy Kim (128); Handley was paced by Colleen Connolly (126) and Scott Mikulec (142); and Clarke County was led by Brendan Ciaburri (133) and Cameron Sheib (136).

Loudoun Valley’s Weaver — whose coach is James Wood graduate Troy Mezzatesta — and Potomac Falls’ Jason Giuntu each shot 106, but the first tiebreaker was each golfer’s performance on the hole with the lowest handicap number on the Red Nine, which was hole No. 7. Weaver shot even par on the par-4 hole, and Giuntu shot a 5.

After starting on White No. 8, Weaver — a Group 3A state qualifier last year — was actually three-over after seven holes. But beginning with his ninth hole — Blue No. 7 — he ripped off a stretch of four birdies in six holes between the Blue and Red Nines, setting the stage for his victory.

“It was a good grinding round,” Weaver said. “Usually when I start a round bad, it becomes mental for me, but today I was able to fight through it. I was proud of that.”

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