Region 4A - Golf Tournament

Posted: October 6, 2015
By WALT MOODY

Having just seen his team miss out on a state tournament berth, defending 4A state champion Brett Loy needed some magic of his own.

In a five-way playoff for the final spot to the state championships next week, Sherando’s Loy birdied the first playoff hole to secure a chance to defend his title.

The usual 18 holes weren’t enough all day at the Region 4A West tournament at par-70 Heritage Oaks Golf Course in Harrisonburg.

Sherando, E.C. Glass and Woodgrove tied for second place in the team race and had to head back out for a playoff.

Coaches selected four players to compete in the playoff with the combined scores of each player determining the winner. If teams were still tied after one hole, they would continue to play holes until one team had the lower score.

It only took one hole.

Sherando’s four golfers each made par, which was the goal.

“We talked and said let’s go ahead and get four pars,” Warriors coach Rob Wright said. “That ought to do it.”

Loy nearly did one better than that, but his birdie putt lipped out.

E.C. Glass did the Warriors one better as one of the Hilltoppers nailed a 20-foot birdie putt and they got three pars to win.

Woodgrove, which defeated Sherando in the Conference 21A meet, played the hole in 1-over par.

“We gave it a good shot,” Wright said. “That’s just golf.”

Loy then needed some heroics of his own to advance to next week’s two-day finals at the Glenrochie Country Club in Abingdon.

After his 6-over 76 left him battling for his postseason life, Loy drilled a birdie putt to win the last of six individual spots available.

“He had a lot of pressure on him this season,” Wright said. “He won the conference and now has qualified for states again.

“He has a second life now. We’ll see how it goes.”

Led by Brandon Weaver’s 72, Loudoun Valley easily took the team title with a score of 305. All four of the Vikings scorers shot in the 70s.

Weaver lost a playoff to Salem’s Elliott Gardner for the individual title.

Sherando’s other scorers were Jonah Pearson (78), Mason Scott (79) and Josh Hogue (81). Josh Bianco and Luke Conner each shot 86.

“They had a great season,” Wright said of his team. “They finished first or second in every tournament they played in and their scores were better than last year. ... They set a good example for the younger kids coming up.”

In other individual play, James Wood’s Tyler Mounts led the contingent of area scorers with a 79. Also from the Colonels, Ben Marsh fired an 82 and Hunter Hall shot and 87. Handley’ s Colleen Connolly notched an 88 and Millbrook’s Ryan McCarty had an 84.

— Contact Walt Moody at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow on Twitter @WinStarSports1