A close but still disappointing runner-up finish in last year’s region golf tournament helped motivate the Washington-Liberty Generals to win this fall’s event.
The Generals captured the 36-hole 6D North Region tourney by carding a two-day score of 298-319–617 on the par-72 Bristow Manor Golf Club near Manassas.
Washington-Liberty won by one stroke over the Madison Warhawks (308-310–618), with its Arlington rival Yorktown Patriots third (304-318–622).
The region championship was the team’s first in program history.
Individually, the Generals were led by junior Colin Hanley. He was the first-round leader with a career low high-school round of 3-under 69, shot 78 the second day for a 147 total to finish runner-up to the Langley Saxons’ Sophie Cao (71-71–142).
“Finishing second and losing in a playoff last season was difficult, and left a sour taste in our mouths,” said Hanley, who started playing golf seriously in the eighth grade. “We wanted to win this year, and we are much happier now.”
Langley defeated W-L in a one-hole, two-team playoff to win last year’s region crown.
After playing well the first round at the region tourney, Hanley struggled on the front nine the second day, then finished strong on the back.
“I was terrible on the front nine, but I locked in on the back. I always seem to play better and like the back nine better,” Hanley said.
Emmett Spence, another junior, had W-L’s second lowest score with a 73-75–148 to tie for third. Spence won the previous week’s Liberty District individual title, helping the Generals win that competition, as well.
Generals’ senior Finn Watson, a previous multi-time region runner-up who will play college golf at James Madison University, shot 80-74–154 to tie for eighth.
“I didn’t hit the ball well either round, but I scored better the second day,” Watson said.
Also for Washington-Liberty, senior Bennett Schadrack shot 76-94–170, junior Dominic Tamburro 82-93–175 and junior Tyler Hong 84-92–176.
“They all played better on the back nine the second day, and that’s why we won,” W-L coach Mike Wilkis told ARLnow. “The back nine was more suitable for their games. We played fantastic the first day, then good enough the second. As a team, the players were very motivated after last year’s finish.”
Yorktown also had a higher team score the second round of the region and was overtaken by Madison.
The top two region finishers move on to the Virginia High School League’s Class 6 state tournament. The Generals finished fifth in the state last fall.
“They are such a good group and play for each other. I feel badly and sad for them they aren’t going to states,” Yorktown coach Chris Williams said.
Yorktown was led by junior Grey Luongo, who shot 74-75–149 to tie for sixth and sophomore Ethan Newfield with a 75-79–154 to tie for eighth. Senior Ryan Pericak shot 75-82–157 to tie for 13th, senior Hugh Channer shot 80-82-162, junior Ginger Beall 82-82–164 and senior Peter Fliakas 81-85–166.
The Wakefield Warriors did not participate as a team in the region tournament, but had two individuals who qualified. Senior Ari Liebman shot 83-88-171 and junior Tommy Swicker 91-93–184.
NOTE: By winning its first region championship, Washington-Liberty’s two-season run of success in big tournaments continues. During that stretch, the Generals have won two Arlington County and Liberty District championships each, have finishes of first and second in the region and fifth in the state, with the 2025 state competition still to come.
