For Heritage’s Darden, The Eagle Has Landed

Senior’s 90-Foot Shot Spurs Tourney Win

By Matthew Stanmyre

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Christian Darden knew his shot would be close to the cup as soon as his sand wedge whacked the golf ball.

But what stunned the Heritage senior — causing him to throw his hands into the air, a smile stretching across his face — was that his shot wasn’t just close, it was perfect. Darden drained an eagle from about 90 feet on the 10th hole at Algonkian Golf Course on Monday morning. The shot sparked him to a first-place finish at the Cheers Invitational, which included all 10 high schools in Loudoun County.

“It was an amazing shot,” said Heritage Coach John Dugger. “It was like he found a whole different level of confidence at that point.”

Darden trailed by three shots in his foursome on the front nine but was superb during the back nine to shoot an even-par 72. He finished two shots better than Stone Bridge’s Josh Apple and Broad Run’s Bryan Buckner. Freedom’s Tyler Blake (75), Briar Woods’s Carl Brandes (76) and Potomac Falls’s Kevin Yerks (77) rounded out the top six.

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Cheers Invitational Golf Tournament

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Loudoun Valley's Jacob Faircloth follows his shot during the Cheers Invitational tournament at Algonkian Golf Course in Sterling. (Katherine Frey)

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Tyler Blake follows his shot on the Algokian Golf Course. He finished 3-over-par to place fourth overall in the Cheers Invitational tournament. (Katherine Frey)

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Tyler Blake tees off on hole 16. H will finish 3-over-par -- fourth overall -- in the Cheers Invitational tournament. (Katherine Frey)

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Dominion High School's Michael Biller during the Cheers Invitational golf tournament at Algonkian Golf Course in Sterling. (Katherine Frey)

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Dominion High School's Michael Biller during the Cheers Invitational golf tournament at Algonkian Golf Course in Sterling. (Katherine Frey)

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Kevin Yerks of Broad Run tries to coax his shot towards the hole on No. 14 with a bit of body language. He shot a 77, which was 5-over-par, and finished 6th in the Cheers Invitational Golf Tournament at Algokian Golf Course in Sterling. (Katherine Frey)

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Josh Apple of Stone Bridge is not happy with his shot at the 11th hole. He finished the day with a 2-over-par 74 to place third in the Cheers Invitational Golf Tournament at Algokian Golf Course in Sterling. (Katherine Frey)

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Christian Darden of Heritage High School celebrates as his shot on th 10th hole goes in for the eagle. He finished the day at even par 72 to win the Cheers Invitational Golf Tournament at Algokian Golf Course in Sterling. (Katherine Frey)

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Christian Darden of Heritage High School celebrates as his shot on th 10th hole goes in for the eagle. He finished the day at even par 72 to win the Cheers Invitational Golf Tournament at Algokian Golf Course in Sterling. (Katherine Frey)

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Christian Darden of Heritage High School studies the green on the 15th hole. He finished the day at even par 72 to win the Cheers Invitational Golf Tournament at Algokian Golf Course in Sterling. (Katherine Frey)

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Briar Woods claimed the team title with a score of 316, ahead of Stone Bridge (321) and Potomac Falls (323). It was the Falcons’ first team victory this season after finishing second at the 22-team Curly Licklider tournament in Front Royal and a mini-tournament at Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club in Leesburg.

“They’re coming together and maturing quickly,” said Briar Woods Coach Bob Vitti, noting that his team does not have any seniors because the school opened three years ago. “They have a discipline in everything they do that just supports success.”

Darden also dazzled after his shot on the 10th, which was his first career eagle in competition. On the par-five 18, he drilled his tee shot an estimated 310 feet on to the lip of the fairway. Algonkian’s golf pro, Ted Simpson, watched nearby from a golf cart in the rough.

“Three-hundred-and-ten feet? That’s pretty good even for Tiger Woods,” Simpson said.

It was Darden’s second victory this season (he had won a match against Broad Run a week earlier). He is quickly becoming a force in local golf, especially considering he picked up a club for the first time a few months before his freshman year.

Since then — and under the guidance of Pat McGuire, a golf pro at the Dulles Golf Academy — Darden’s handicap has nosedived each year, from 18 to 11 to 2. After this season, he no longer may have one.

“I just love being out at the course,” said Darden, who has spent two summers playing 36 holes each day, followed by extensive work at the driving range. “There’s nothing else I’d rather do.”

Darden displayed some moxie Monday. After his third shot on the 18th hole sailed over the green and into the rough, he saved par by chipping within a foot of the cup. The crowd surrounding the 18th clapped, while Darden nodded, his curly brown locks spilling out the sides of his black cap.

“Wow,” Dugger exclaimed from nearby. “What a shot.”

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks