Inspired Briar Woods Goes to Regionals

Coach Says Hard Work Key to Season

Briar Woods junior Mike Birmingham parred the third playoff hole Wednesday to capture the individual title at the AA Dulles District Golf Championship at Lowes Island, helping the Falcons complete the sweep of the regular season and tournament district titles.

Birmingham finished an even-par 72, tying Potomac Falls senior Wyatt Endres at the top of the leader board. The two competed in a sudden-death playoff, and after both parred the first two holes, Birmingham topped Endres in the third hole to capture the title.

"It's a huge relief," Birmingham said. "Me and Wyatt played some pretty golf throughout the day. Two good playoff holes, and I was just the luckier one at the moment."

Briar Woods went undefeated in district play and captured the regular season crown with a score of 308. Potomac Falls finished in second with a score of 326 and will head to the regional tournament for the second straight year.

"I came back this year, and I told the guys right up front, going to regionals as a team was a great success last year, going to states with an individual was even greater, and all of our focus needs to be on getting back there," Potomac Falls Coach Dave Quirin said. "Not just as a team to regionals but as a team to states, and I love that we still have that ability to do that again this year."

For Briar Woods, capturing district titles and advancing to regionals are a direct result of each player's hard work during the year, Coach Bob Vitti said.

Vitti said he had not laid out any goals for the Falcons; instead, he asked each player to look to improve his individual game.

"I'm one of those coaches that doesn't set expectations," Vitti said. "It really is try to focus on these individuals to keep improving their game both in their swing and between the ears, and then things will happen. . . . Obviously it's a great accomplishment for these guys, and I can't express how much appreciation I have for the hard work they put into it. It's phenomenal how kids this age come through time, after time, after time."

Birmingham's individual title was impressive; he was able to recover from a triple-bogey on the 12th hole to stay in contention. Birmingham hit his drive on the 12th "perfectly" but then hit an iron shot off the hosel of the club. Birmingham replayed the shot and ended up with a triple-bogey.

"Once in a while, you take a shot off the hosel and go, 'What was that?' and you go back to it, and you birdie the next hole," Vitti said. "And that's exactly what he did."

After birdieing the 13th, Birmingham parred the next four holes and birdied 18 to tie Endres for the lead.

"Just played it like any other hole," Birmingham said of 18. "But it ended up being pretty clutch."

Notes: Other medalists at the tournament were Briar Woods junior Spencer Burcak, Heritage senior Christian Darden, Briar Woods sophomore Jonathan Howard and Loudoun County senior Tommy Medaglia.

Other players advancing to the regional tournament next week at Brambleton Golf Club in Ashburn are Park View freshman Jake Wilton, Freedom-South Riding sophomores Alex Choi and Tyler Blake, and Loudoun County freshman Kevin Cook.