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With four players returning and four newcomers, the Rockbridge County High School golf team hopes to build on its success last year.
The Wildcats, who placed second in the Region 3C tournament to make their first state tournament appearance in four years last fall, have only one senior on a team that could go far. In the Class 3 state tournament last October, RC placed eighth.
From last year’s team, the Wildcats graduated two seniors, Sofia Vargas and Abby Brooks. Vargas, an all-region golfer who led the Wildcats by placing third at the Region 3C tournament, is about to start her freshman year as a Division I golfer for The Citadel.
Under the direction of David Miller, in his 12th year as RC’s head coach, the Wildcats have great potential as the season gets underway.
Expected to lead the Wildcats is junior captain Andrew McCoy, an all-district and all-region performer who led the Wildcats for much of last season. At the state tournament last year, McCoy tied for 18th place.
Confident in McCoy as a leader, Miller said, “He has worked very hard and had some impressive offseason tournament play, and I can’t wait to see him grow this year.”
After a strong freshman year, sophomore Harrison Tanner is expected to be a leader as the Wildcats’ second scorer after finishing last year at the third spot. Miller said Tanner “has gotten even longer off the tee and, if he can continue to be better around the greens, he could also be battling for a spot on this year’s all-district team.”
Miller said it’s looking like junior Jack Jensen will hold down the third spot for the Wildcats after playing consistently in the top six last year. “He has continued to grow as a player, and I look for him to have a breakout season,” said Miller.
Also returning is senior Will Gibbs, who has stepped up to the fourth spot on the team. Miller said Gibbs “hit the ball a long way. He doesn’t have a lot of match experience, but he is a leader on and off the course, and I don’t think it will take long for him to settle in and score well.”
Two first-year varsity players are battling for the final two varsity spots: junior Jud Beacham and freshman Finbar Looney. “Both need time and experience, but their attitudes have been wonderful, and I see them both becoming factors as the season progresses,” said Miller.
Also new to the team are sophomore Dean Fafatas and junior Bryce Bell. Miller said Fafatas “could jump in the mix once he gets going. He had a late start trying out but could certainly be a factor at some point.”
The RC coach said Bell “is an athlete and could catch on quickly if he works.”
In the Valley District, the Wildcats hope to overcome three-time defending champion Spotswood after finishing a close second to the Trailblazers in the district last year before beating them in the Region 3C tournament, which Charlottesville won by one shot over the Wildcats. Other teams battling for one of the two Region 3C tournament are Broadway, Turner Ashby and East Rockingham, which joins the Valley District this year. Also in the district are Harrisonburg and newcomer William Monroe, but both teams are in different regions, so they won’t be in the battle with the other teams for a spot in the Region 3C tournament.
Excited about his team’s chances, Miller said, “looks like this year is up for grabs. Lots of new faces in the district, and it looks like a fun year.”
The Wildcats were scheduled to begin the season at Heritage Oaks Golf Course in Harrisonburg on Monday before playing at Botetourt Golf & Swim Club yesterday, Tuesday. They’ll have a Valley District home match at the Lexington Golf & Country Club on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. before traveling for a district match at Greene Hills Club in Standardsville on Monday at 4:30 p.m. After this week, the Wildcats will have two other home matches scheduled, against Northside on Wednesday, Sept. 7, and against Lord Botetourt on Tuesday, Sept. 13, both are slated for 4 p.m.
