By Dan Sousa
LoudounPrepSports.com Editor
Winchester (Aug. 9, 2007) – The prep golf season got off to a hot start Wednesday, quite literally, as eight of the 10 Loudoun teams braved the record-breaking heat to play in the sixth annual Curly Licklider Invitational at Shenandoah Valley Golf Course.
In a preview of what looks to be a season-long battle for first place in the AA Dulles District, defending tournament champion Briar Woods and defending regular-season champion Potomac Falls both shot 316 to finish five strokes back of champion AAA Albemarle. Western Albemarle also shot 316 but Briar Woods walked away with the second-place plaque on a tie-breaker.
The Falcons and Panthers will have less than 24 hours to debate the merits of which team is actually better as they face off today at 2:30 at Lowes Island in an early key Dulles District dual match.
Forecasts are calling for 92 degrees with a heat index of 100 at tee time today. That may feel like a breath of fresh air after the athletes suffered through temperatures Wednesday that soared to 99 degrees — three degrees higher than the all-time mark for Winchester set in 1977 — with a heat index of 107. To help the golfers beat the heat, the players were allowed to use carts for the Invitational
“I think some of the players languished around the 14th, 15th hole,” said Briar Woods coach Bob Vitti. “I was soaked and that was just from driving around in the cart.”
The local prep golf season is divided into three phases, two district “mini-tournaments” which will be held Aug. 15 at Raspberry Falls in Leesburg and Aug. 20 at Algonkian in Sterling, and then the dual meet season. Equal weight is given to all three elements to determine the regular-season champion. Last year, Briar Woods, Broad Run, Heritage, Loudoun County and Potomac Falls all finished with 5-2 dual meet marks but the Panthers claimed the regular-season title with a better overall finish in the two district mini-tournaments.
“The only thing that concerns me about Thursday is that we are playing on their home course, but the kids are all looking forward to playing Lowes Island,” said Vitti.
Individually Wednesday, three players carded two-over-par rounds of 73 with Skyline’s Zach Henry winning the tiebreaker for first. It really was a first for Skyline and Henry as the freshman was competing for the high school was is just opening this year. Wes Eklund of Albemarle was second and the aptly-named Patrick Leisure third. Loudoun County senior Tommy Medaglia shot 74 for fourth and Albemarle’s Joe Mileur was fifth at 75.
A six-pack of players shot 76 including junior T.J. Bailey of Briar Woods, sophomore Tyler Blake of Freedom and freshman Scott Davidson of Loudoun Valley.
Broad Run shot 320 to finish fifth in the 22-team field. Millbrook was sixth at 321 and Loudoun Valley shot 323 to take seventh. Centreville was also at 323 followed by Loudoun County at 325 and Sherando at 327 to round out the top 10.
Other local teams in the tournament included Freedom (343), Heritage (353) and Dominion (358).
Briar Woods and Potomac Falls approached their 216’s on Wednesday in different ways. The Falcons, returning all their starters from 2006, had three low rounds from their “****** B’s” in Bailey (76), Mike Birmingham (77) and Carl Brendes (78). The rest of the team shot in the mid-80s.
Potomac Falls returns two players expected to challenge for the district title, seniors Wyatt Endres and Chris Abt, who shot 78 and 80 respectively. The Panthers had to be very encouraged by a pair of 79’s turned in by junior Michael Tondi and senior Ryan Yakscoe. Tondi’s and Yakscoe’s combined score of 158 was a staggering 34 strokes better than what they registered at the district meet in 2006. The Panthers also got a 83 Wednesday from freshman Brett Johnson.
Broad Run also showed great balanced Wednesday and should challenge Briar Woods and Potomac Falls for the title in 2007. Senior Bryan Buckner turned in a 79, while Junior Kevin Yerks, one of the top players in the district, and senior Jeremy Davis each shot 80. Junior Tyler Campos, who came on strong at the end of 2006, carded 81.
Medaglia gives Loudoun County another shot at crowning an individual champion to follow in the footsteps of graduated Kevin McLister. Medaglia’s 74 was complimented by junior Michael Walker’s 80 and sophomore Dan Jackson’s 81. The challenge for the Raiders will be to get a consistent fourth score to help them compete with PF, BR and BW for the district title.
Loudoun Valley, always a contender with coach Gary McKay leading the Vikings for the 19th season, look strong as usual as they move into the AAA Cedar Run District and Northwest Region this year. Newcomer Davidson’s 76 was backed by senior captain Matt Wallace shooting 79 and sophomore Brian Hickey’s 82.
Freedom is still a young team but the Eagles continue to improve. A pair of sophomores, Blake (76) and Alex Choi (80) led the team Wednesday.
Heritage lost a lot of senior leadership and looks to be in a rebuilding phase. Senior Chris Cowne and junior Stefan Kronenberg each shot 85 and junior Tierney Stanghor shot 86.
Dominion, making its debut for new coach Anne Gasser, got an 84 from sophomore Kevin Cook and 88 from junior Michael Biller.
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