Loudoun County Veers Off Course in State Tournament

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 Albemarle 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 region tournament victory.

With a two-day team total of 317-317 -- 634, 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."

Kushner led the Raiders on both days of competition, carding a 74-75 -- 149. 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.

William Monroe senior Mikey Moyers ran away with his second straight individual state title, conquering the course with an impressive 65-62 -- 127, 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.

Bobcats' Lister Triumphs

Andrew Lister of Battlefield shot a 5-under 67 at Forest Greens Golf Club in Triangle to win the Virginia AAA Northwest Region tournament and earn a spot in next week's state tournament.

Lister turned in a near-flawless round to upset defending region champion Joe Buttgereit of Forest Park, who finished fourth with an even-par 72. Mitch O'Shell (71) of Forest Park was second, and GW-Danville's Parker Hodges (71), Loudoun Valley's Zack Bosse (72) and Battlefield's Justin Riley (74) rounded out the top six. Each advanced to Monday's AAA tournament at Independence Country Club in Richmond.

In the team competition, Battlefield won with a score of 294, edging Loudoun Valley (304). Both teams qualified for the state tournament. E.C. Glass (307), Forest Park (309), Franklin County (318), Stafford (327), Albemarle (335) and Woodbridge (383) rounded out the top eight. . . .

Bobby Ehrhardt of Chopticon shot a 4-over 74 then made consecutive pars to win a sudden-death playoff and edge Michael Buccelli of North Point to win the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference championship at White Plains Golf Course near Waldorf. Buccelli's score helped the Eagles win their first SMAC title with a score of 305, 13 strokes ahead of second-place La Plata. . . .

Senior Colin St. Maxens shot a 1-over 73 to lead St. Andrew's to the Mid-Atlantic Conference title at Worthington Manor Golf Club in Urbana. It was the second consecutive MAC title for St. Andrew's. Robert Loban of Potomac School and Mike Fuller of St. Andrew's tied for second at 74.

Staff writer Josh Barr and special correspondent Matthew Stanmyre contributed to this report.