Wide-open race for Northwestern District individual medalist

September 26, 2011
By Robert Niedzwiecki
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER- Sherando senior Cameron Wiseman was only a few minutes removed from losing a playoff for first place at Thursday's Skyline Hawks Invitational, but he seemed more confident than ever.

"I feel like if I can do what I did today, I'm going to be a contender," Wiseman said.

Wiseman only had Sherando's fourth-best stroke average during the three district mini tournaments, the Curly Lickider Invitational and the Bryan Gunter Invitational.

But he's got every right to believe he can be the champion Tuesday at the Northwestern District tournament, which starts at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Rock Harbor Golf Course.

Sherando coming out on top in the district team competitions has been about as certain as death and taxes this year, but figuring out the individual champions? You might have more luck gunning for a hole-in-one.

In 2007 and 2008, it was former Sherando golfer Casey Thompson (now playing at George Mason University) winning most of the competitions, and in 2009 and 2010, it was Skyline's Zack Henry.

But this year, there's at least a half dozen golfers who have shown they could claim Tuesday's top prize.

Sherando senior Cory Hammons won the Northwestern District mini tournament at Rock Harbor, won the Skyline Hawks Invitational at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club, tied for the area lead at the Curly Licklider Invitational with teammate Chris Slater at SVGC, and nearly won last year's district tournament before falling in a playoff.

Millbrook senior Matt Fazenbaker won the two-day Bryan Gunter Invitational, the district mini tournament at Winchester Country Club, and tied James Wood's Kyle Hevner with a 39 in a dual match at Rock Harbor on Sept. 13 and tied Sherando's Chris Slater and Wiseman with a 37 in a dual at Rock Harbor on Sept. 7.

James Wood's Kyle Hevner won the Millbrook Invitational at Rock Harbor and the district mini at SVGC.

Other highlights? Slater won the Dr. Marshall Glenn Invitational in Charles Town (W.Va.), Sherando senior Kolby Madigan scorched SVGC with a 4-under 32 to win by six strokes in a dual with James Wood on Aug. 31, and players like James Wood's Will Holmes and Millbrook's Grace Eisenhauer have also fired scores this year that have made the rest of the district take notice.

"I feel like it's anyone's game right now," Fazenbaker said. "Anyone can step up and play well on any given day."

With so many local golfers so close in ability, it'd be understandable if there was a little testiness amongst them on the course.

But Sherando's golfers get along famously, and it's always friendly competition when the Warriors are competing in the same group as their Frederick County rivals.

Over the summer, Sherando coach Rob Wright said there were many times when he'd run into his players at the SVGC shop, and they'd happen to mention playing a recent round with Fazenbaker.

Hammons, Hevner and Fazenbaker said there's a fair share of talking and joking around amongst the rival schools, and they think it leads to better golf.

"It helps you keep relaxed with your shots," Fazenbaker said. "It keeps you from being too intense and focusing on negative things."

At the end of the day though, all these golfers want nothing more than to be one standing alone at the top.

Because Rock Harbor is the home course for Millbrook and James Wood, the golfers on those teams should feel particularly comfortable Tuesday.

It was Fazenbaker's performance at Rock Harbor during the Bryan Gunter Invitational that lifted his game and confidence dramatically.

After struggling some during the first two weeks of the season, Fazenbaker blazed to a 3-under 69 during the first round of the Gunter, a school-record performance. Fazenbaker followed that up the next day with a 75 at the Winchester Country Club to win the two-day tournament.

"I think it drove me to prepare more for the tournaments I have," said Fazenbaker, who won the final district mini tournament three days after the Gunter. "It really motivated to me to know that I can do more and that my golf game can succeed at a high level."

Fazenbaker said his overall attitude's better now, and another improvement in his game has been his ability to reach greens on a consistent basis.

"It's giving me more birdie opportunities," Fazenbaker said. "If I have an even average day putting now, I know I'll have a decent score because I'm hitting more greens than usual."

Hevner's strong season was also fueled by a Rock Harbor performance. Before the Millbrook Invitational on Aug. 8, Hevner said he'd never been close to winning a tournament, but his 5-over 77 that day bested the field by five shots.

"That was a big deal," Hevner said. "I wasn't expecting to win [five] competitions at all. I feel like I've had a pretty decent season, and I've just got to try and keep getting better.

"I'm glad [the district tournament] is at Rock Harbor, because I play there every day, I'm used to it, and I've had success there before."

Rock Harbor might not be Hammons' home course, but he's proven he's right at home there by winning the district mini held there.

Besides, there might not be a player in today's field with more motivation. Hammons was in position to win last year's Northwestern District tournament before Handley's Aubrey Wilkerson made two impressive back-to-back shots on the first playoff hole.

Before Hammons went out and actually won a playoff Thursday at the Skyline Hawks Invitational, he thought last year's experience could only help him for this season.

"It kind of of makes me angry thinking about [last year], because I should have two-putted instead of three-putted [in the playoff]," Hammons said. "But it's always solid coming back in and knowing, 'I almost won this last year.' I'm excited for this year, and hopefully I'll come out on top."

In hopes of winning, each golfer will stick to their respective strengths, but they'll have to keep their cool no matter what the temperature.

"You have to stay solid all day," Fazenbaker said. "You have to stay focused through each and every shot."

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