Tough Course Halts Raiders' Run

Golf Team Comes in Seventh at State Tournament

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

CROZET, Va., Oct. 14 - In the past three weeks, the Loudoun County golf team stunned Dulles District favorite Briar Woods to claim the district title, shocked host Western Albermarle with a two-stroke victory at the AA Virginia Region II tournament and made its first appearance in the Virginia state tournament in more than a decade.

That magic finally wore off on Tuesday on the second and final day of the Virginia AA state tournament at Old Trail Golf Club. A combination of back tees, tougher pin placement and freshly cut greens kept the Raiders from repeating the 292 they carded in their regional victory.

With a two-day team total of 634 (317, 317), Loudoun County finished in seventh place while Blacksburg used a six-stroke cushion after a 290 on Monday to capture its third straight state title with a 585 team total.

"It seemed like the course was a little embarrassed that we shot a 292 [last week]," sophomore Brantley Kushner said. "So they moved the tees back and rolled the greens and it was really quick out there."

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Virginia AA Golf Championships

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Loudoun County sophomore Brantley Kushner tees off on the back nine at the Virginia AA state golf championships at Old Trail Golf Club in Crozet on Tuesday. Kushner led the Raiders with a 75 on day two and finished tied for 8th with a 149 for the tournament. (Matt Brooks)

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Loudoun County sophomore Brantley Kushner tees off on a different hole on the back nine at the AA Virginia state golf tournament at Old Trail Golf Club in Crozet on Tuesday. Kushner led the Raiders with a 75 on day two and finished tied for 8th with a 149 for the tournament. (Matt Brooks)

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Briar Woods senior Michael Birmingham measures his putt for birdie on the par-3 9th hole. Birmingham finished tied for 8th with a two-day total of 149. (Matt Brooks)

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Kushner led the Raiders on both days of competition, carding a 74-75. Sophomore Andrew Brenneman shot a 154 and sophomore Kevin Cook had a 163. Junior Dan Jackson's 85 (181) on Monday counted toward the team total while junior Jon Youst's 83 (172) rounded out the second-round scoring.

"It was a tough course and as could be expected, some of the more experienced teams and players came to the forefront," Radiers Coach John Laycock said. "Our kids played hard and played well, and with the mental strain of a tournament of this nature, that's not unexpected at all."

William Monroe senior Mikey Moyers ran away with his second straight individual state title, conquering the course with an impressive 65-62, a two-day total that set a Virginia AA record, shattering the old mark of 134 set by Blacksburg's Mark Lowe in 1968.

"When I eagled my fifth hole, I told my coach I could probably shoot a better round than I did yesterday, but I didn't really mean it," Moyers said. "When I got to the front nine, everything started falling and everything went right."

Briar Woods senior Michael Birmingham shot a 149 to tie Kushner for eighth, Broad Run senior Kevin Yerks - the Dulles District tournament individual champion - rebounded from an 80 on Monday to shoot a 73 and finish at 153 while Freedom's Tyler Blake carded a 161.

Despite the seventh-place finish at states, Loudoun County takes away plenty of positives from the season.

"We've got the talent on this team to be really competitive at this level," Laycock said. "Getting to the state level while most of these kids are sophomores and juniors really bodes well for the future."

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks