Golf - Skyline Invitational

By JIM LAISE | Special to The Winchester Star

FRONT ROYAL — James Wood High School golf coach David Oates was pleasantly surprised when he found out that a junior transfer wanted to play for his golf team in late August.

“I was talking to him and I said, ‘You know, Coach, I’ve played at [Randolph-Macon Academy] for a couple of years and I’d like to try out for you,’” said junior Jacob Karen.

“You did what?,” came Oates’ surprise reply.

“I said, ‘Now wait a minute I’ve got to check this out with my [athletic director, Craig Woshner],” Oates said. “Let’s see about getting you eligible.”

Oates and Woshner put their heads together and on Aug. 28 Karen passed his physical. The day after he joined his new team and a week ago he played in his first event, a nine-hole test at a golf course outside Berkeley Springs, W.Va.

He warmed up with that showing and Karen followed it up by shooting the low score among Winchester-Frederick County player Tuesday at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club at the annual Skyline Invitational. Karen wrapped up a tidy 78 playing the par-71 red and white tees.

Of all the area local schools, Clarke County shot a 333 to tie for seventh. Sherando was ninth with a 337, Handley tied for 10th at 338, Wood tied for 12th at 340 and Millbrook finished 16th at 390.

Loudoun Valley won the event with a score of 297 behind a 68 from Longwood University-bound Ryan Hammer. Jefferson Forest was a stroke back, thanks in part to Caleb Debass’ 72. Led by medalist Matthew Monastero’s 67, Loudoun County took third at 301.

Karen said he took an overseas trip with classmates from Randolph-Macon Academy this summer and thoroughly enjoyed it, but when he got back to Winchester he decided he would join his three sisters, all of whom are registered in Frederick County schools.

Emblematic of the independence he had learned by attending the military school for several years, Karen decided to take the situation on, even though he has yet to earn his driver’s permit.

“I did my [Frederick County] registration on my own,” Karen said. “Of course, Dad was my chauffeur, but it was my life choice. I got [Coach Oates’] number from teammate Tyler [Mounts] — he and I had played together.”

Karen said he tallied four birdies in his round.

“I’ve been playing up and down,” he said. “For instance, I went out one day and shot a 70. I came out again a couple of days after that and it was a 92.”

Asked whether he was satisfied with earning the best individual scorer among golfers from Wood, Sherando, Handley and Millbrook, Karen said, “Yes and no. I’ve have higher expectations of myself.”

While Karen was his round, top prize for the local players went to Clarke County’s Zach Koontz, who carded a 75.

Brandon Nice carded an 82 and Ryan Judy had an 83 for Sherando.

Warriors coach Rob Wright was perplexed by his squad’s performance, even though it has been more than a week since its last tournament.

“You know it’s like the old saying goes, ‘You’re never as bad as you seem and you’re never as good,’” Wright said. “I’m going to tell them that the next time they get on the bus it’s going to be all or nothing.”

The Warriors have several regular-season matches before the Class 4 Northwestern District championship tournament at Fauquier Springs arrives Sept. 20.

Fauquier County has already clinched the regular-season district championship by virtue of averaging the low score in three different tournaments. Sherando, James Wood, Millbrook and Handley will be participating looking to finish high in the district tournament. The top two teams — other than Fauquier — also qualify for a berth for the regional tournament at Loudoun Country Club.

Clarke County’s situation is somewhat different. The Eagles need to win the regular-season title or fare the best among the rest of the teams at the district tournament Sept. 25 at Basye’s Bryce Resort golf club.

Medalist Monastero won the first tournament of his career. He scorched six birdies and just two bogeys on his round.

“I thought I played pretty well,” said Monastero who edged Hammer, a multi-winner of the Bryan Gunter Memorial Tournament at Shenandoah and Winchester County Club. “The big thing was, I didn’t have any three-putt [greens] that was big.”

“He was solid in the fairways and greens and made no major mistakes,” Loudoun County coach John Ronis said. “He’s a talented kid.”