August 12, 2011
By Robert Niedzwiecki
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER- After finishing behind Region II rivals Western Albemarle and Monticello for the second time in a week at Wednesday's Spotswood Invitational, Sherando coach Rob Wright said a theme developed in his players' conversations on the way home:

"Can't wait until tomorrow."

He wasn't kidding. Within an hour of arriving in Stephens City, three of Sherando's players had made their way over to Rock Harbor Golf Course to prepare for Thursday's first Northwestern District mini tournament.

The Warriors' enthusiasm and work ethic certainly paid off. Led by individual champ Cory Hammons (an even-par 72) and Kolby Madigan (73), Sherando recorded a four-player score of 306 to cruise to a 28-stroke win on the Rock Course.

"They were upset with their performance [Wednesday]," Wright said. "They feel comfortable when they get together [with the other local schools]. You're just going out and playing with your buddy."

Millbrook, propelled by Grace Eisenhauer's career-best 76 and Matt Fazenbaker's 77, took second with a 334, while James Wood took third behind Kyle Hevner's 74. Skyline was fourth with a 383 and Handley took fifth with a 428.
As Wright has often noted, Sherando's players enjoy competing against each other immensely - they'll ask their coaches how their teammates are doing during the middle of their rounds.

But on Thursday, Hammons also got a charge out his competition with playing partner Hevner, who won Monday's Millbrook Invitational, also held at Rock Harbor.

Hevner finished three shots better than he did Monday, but it just wasn't enough to catch Hammons, who was determined not to let his one-stroke lead heading into the 423-yard, par-4 18th hole disappear.

"I hit a phenomenal three-wood, chipped up to within six inches, and then birdied it," Hammons said. "It was pretty awesome."

And of course, the fact that the birdie not only cleared him two strokes of Hevner [third overall] but also one stroke of Madigan made it that much sweeter.

"It's nice to show everyone on my team I'm No. 1 now," said a smiling Hammons, who had four birdies. "Watch out."

With the Warriors - who were also led by Chris Slater (79) and Jeff Miller (82) - it definitely takes everything a golfer has to finish on top. Madigan's 73 came one day after shooting an 87 at Lakeview Golf Club in Harrisonburg.

"Kolby has really worked hard on his game, and you can tell it's really showing up," Wright said. "He's confident. Yesterday he complained about how bad he played and what he did. He had a couple bad holes that threw him off, but today, everything worked for him."

Things worked better than they have all year for Millbrook, too. After finishing behind James Wood in its previous two tournaments, Eisenhauer, Fazenbaker and Zane Watts (87) gave the Pioneers the edge in the first competition that counts toward the district regular season race.

"It keeps us within striking distance of Sherando," Millbrook coach Russ Korn said. "If they happen to slip up and we play really well, there's a chance to catch them.

"Grace played awesome. Matt struggled on the front a little bit, but he shot even par on the back. Zane played solid on the back too."

Eisenhauer (fourth overall) had never shot better than 81 at Rock Harbor, and that was in a practice round.

"I was oddly very calm," said Eisenhauer, who was pleased with her bunker play and putting (31 total). "I just took one shot at a time and didn't worry about the messed up shot before. I tried to think of having a correct tempo, releasing and having all the right setups with my swing.

"I wasn't worried about what I was shooting. Some people would be like, 'Oh wow, you're par through nine,' and I'd be like shooing them off: 'I don't want to hear it.' I just lived in the present."

Though Hevner couldn't follow up his Monday win, he was pleased he was able stay in the hunt.

"I felt pretty confident out there," he said. "I was hitting pretty much the same strokes as the other day, and it worked out for me."

Handley was led by Jessie Nolan, who shot a career-best 85 to top her previous high of 89.