August 20, 2011
By Greg Brill
Special to The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER- Sometimes the best way to erase the memory of a sub-par round is to get right back on the course and work on improving strokes.

And that's exactly what the Sherando golf team did Thursday, after shooting a 328 to place third after the first day of the Bryan Gunter Invitational.

When the tournament wrapped up Friday at Winchester Country Club, Sherando had improved by 19 shots and also moved past Millbrook to finish second overall.

The Warriors' score of 637 (328-309) placed them behind only Centreville, which shot a tournament-record 602 (301-301).

Sherando spent a few hours back on the course Thursday to practice and work toward a better score when it came back Friday.

"Today was a little more representative of what they can do," Sherando coach Rob Wright said. "After yesterday's round, four of them came out here for three hours, putted, played a few holes, and got ready for the next round.

"That's how upset they were for [the first-round scores]. It's a great comeback for them. We have faith in them and they pull it together."

Millbrook senior Matt Fazenbaker wrapped up medalist honors by coming through with a 75 at WCC to post a winning two-day total of 144 (69-75).

He won by two strokes over Centreville's Keon Ho Song.

"It really all comes down to having patience with every shot," Fazenbaker said. "I played a little safer [Friday] on every shot and played to the center of the green instead of going for the flags.

"I think it helped me feel better about each shot."

Centreville had set a goal of breaking the record for 18 holes at the tournament, set two years ago by Loudoun Valley with its 604. By consistently keeping all its counting scores in the sub-80 range, Centreville made it happen. "We were kind of chasing that 604, and we saw after [Thursday] we had four kids shoot in the 70s, that [setting a team record] was realistic," Centreville coach Geordie Bigus said. "I'm very happy. I'm trying to teach them to grind-out when they're having a rough hole and to just try and come back and make par."

After Ho Song's round of 146 (73-73) earned him second, teammates Shaan Koloigi gained third with his 150 (73-77) and Janice Kim got fourth with her 153 (76-77).

Fazenbaker played in a group with Ho Song, who was tied for second after the first day. Fazenbaker had just one birdie Friday after posting four on Thursday, but he stayed consistent and had at least a par on 30 of 36 holes through the tournament.

"I'm really honored to have this [title]," Fazenbaker said. "It just was really exciting throughout the two days to play with the teams and the other players."

Fazenbaker, who shot a school record 69 on Thursday, became the first Pioneer to win the Gunter.

"I told him if he shot a 75 [Friday], that should do it [for medalist]," Millbrook coach Russ Korn said. "And that's what he shot. It was just another solid round of golf for him."

Millbrook fell back 12 shots from its first-day total and finished in third with a 660 (324-336).

Backing Fazenbaker were Grace Eisenhauer's 168 (80-88), a 175 from Kelly Snider (87-86) and Woody Plante's 179 (88-91).

"We would have had to shoot lights out to stay with [Sherando] again," Korn said. "But with our overall performance in this tournament, getting third, I'm quite pleased."

The Warriors received improved scores from five of their six golfers.

A senior, Kolby Madigan had the most impact, taking nine strokes off his score and tying with a team-best of 157 (83-74).

"It was a lot better conditions for us to play on," Madigan said. "The greens were faster, and it was easier to putt on.

"I think everybody putted well, and everybody was hitting the ball well. I struck the ball well."

Chris Slater also carded a 157 (82-75), and Cameron Wiseman's 160 (80-80), and a 163 from Cory Hammonds (83-80) rounded out the scoring.

James Wood maintained its place from the first day and finished in fourth (333-335).

"It was a solid two days for us," James Wood coach Al Smith said. "We could have done a little bit better, but overall, I am happy with how they performed."

Will Holmes just missed finishing in the top five and gaining a medal with his 156 (77-79).

The Colonels stayed consistent, as Kyle Hevner shot a 163 (79-84), and Taylor Blake (87-89) and Alex Spalding (90-86) each carded a 176.

Handley finished in seventh with 745. Jessie Nolan led with a 177 (84-93) and Taylor Watts had a 183 (93-90).