There was, maybe, a tight smile or two as the Washington-Liberty Generals reluctantly gathered for a team photo.
But there also was a hunger for more.
The high-school team had aimed to win the 6D North Region golf tournament, especially after leading the two-day, 36-hole event Oct. 1 and 2 by five strokes after the first round at Bristow Manor Golf Club in Prince William County. At the end of regulation play the second day, however, W-L and the Langley Saxons were tied for first, forcing a playoff.
Langley won on the second hole to capture its eighth straight title. In contrast, Washington-Liberty was playing in the region tourney for the first time, so its finish was a program best.
The Generals won the Liberty District tournament for the first time the previous week, after beginning the fall campaign by winning the three-team Arlington County match.
A Washington-Liberty assistant coach encouraged the players to smile for the region team photo, reminding the squad that it has enjoyed its finest season. “But we didn’t win,” one of the players responded.
“We wanted to win this, and we needed to shave a few more strokes off today,” said Finn Watson, who shot a 3-under 70-71-141 to finish second individually in the region for the third year in a row. “We played good golf, but we definitely left some strokes out there.”
Washington-Liberty’s team score was 306-303-609. Langley shot 311-298-609.
The Generals still advance to the Virginia High School League’s one-day, 18-hole Class 6 state tournament for the first time, to be played Oct. 15 at the Golf Club at Lansdowne in Loudoun County.
At the region tourney, Watson and teammate Emmett Spence each shot 70 in the opening round and were tied for the lead individually. Spence struggled to an 81 the second day for a 151 total. Also for Washington-Liberty, Colin Hanley shot 85-72-157, James Hall 83-79-162, Malia Perry 83-81-164 and Quinn Breed 87-92-179. Hanley’s second-round 72 tied for the fourth lowest round of the day.
Watson finished second by one stroke to Langley’s Sophie Cao. She carded a 4-under 72-68-140. Cao was 4-under after six holes in the second round. She also made the winning birdie putt on the second playoff hole, after keeping the Saxons alive with a tying birdie putt on the first extra hole.
“Sophie doesn’t make mistakes,” Watson said. “She hits fairways and greens and makes putts. I hung in there with her, but she got ahead early and I couldn’t catch up.”
Said Cao: “Finn kept the pressure on me.”
Two Wakefield High School golfers played in the region tournament. Tully Andress shot 76-79-155 and Beckett Hampton 80-76-156
From Yorktown High, Ryan Pericak shot 81-74-155, Luke Sanne 80-79-159 and Madison Cameron 86-83-169.
