With top finishes in the spring season’s three biggest tournaments, the Bishop O’Connell Knights enjoyed their best golf campaign in years.
The high-school team finished second in the Washington-Catholic Athletic Conference tourney, fourth at the Washington Metro Boys Golf Championship, then tied for fourth at the season-ending co-ed Division I private-school state competition.
Also at the 18-hole state event at Williamsburg National Golf Club, two-time defending O’Connell individual state champion Logan Reilly shot a 3-under 69 to finish tied for fifth. He was two shots off the winning scores of 67 shot by Alexis Goboy of Catholic High School and Grace Anne Haggerty from St. Catherine’s School.
Last season, Reilly tied for the state title with Goboy, both shooting 67.
Although his round also included four birdies and an eagle, a couple of bogeys on the final four holes hurt Reilly’s chances to tie for first this spring.
“I hit it good but just couldn’t make any putts,” Reilly told ARLnow. “I lipped out a lot.”
O’Connell’s team score at the state tournament was 294, tying St. Christopher’s of Richmond for fourth. Woodberry Forest shot 284 to win, Potomac School was second at 288 and St. Paul VI Catholic third at 289.
“Our team is a lot deeper this year, with players shooting lower scores,” Reilly said.
Carding O’Connell’s second-lowest score at the state tourney was freshman Chase Evans with a 73 to tie for 12th. Senior Conor McCarthy shot 75 to tie for 20th, with senior Henry Grisius having a 77 to tie for 23rd. Junior Ryan Latessa shot 80 and junior Finnian Sweeney 95.
Prior to the state tournament, O’Connell finished second to Gonzaga in the conference tourney, played on the University of Maryland’s course.
Individually, Reilly finished second by one shot.
Squeezed between the state and WCAC tournaments was the Washington Metro Boys Golf Championship at The Club at P.B. Dye Golf Club in Maryland.
Reilly shot 69 to win the individual title and the team placed fourth. McCarthy shot 71.
“I played OK that day, nothing special,” Reilly said. “It was a tough course, and I think that gave me an advantage.”
Reilly will play college golf at Auburn University.
During regular-season play this spring, O’Connell and Gonzaga tied in a dual match and won 10 dual matches.
