Mission Accomplished

In time, it proved to be a thanks-I-needed-that smack in the face.

 

By whatever description, Collegiate’s fourth place finish in the Prep League golf tournament May 10 at the par-72 Old Trail Golf Course in Crozet wasn’t supposed to happen.

 

After all, the Cougars were the defending league and VISAA champion. They sported a lineup laden with energy, experience, albeit youthful, and potential. They were also one of several talented teams playing that day and had very little margin for error.

 

“We knew it would be harder to win this year,” said Jack Barnes, a junior and major contributor to the 2021 success. “Last year we could beat teams with our B-game. This year, we had to bring our A-game every day.”

 

Trinity Episcopal, the victor, combined for an 18-hole total of 293, one stroke ahead of Woodberry Forest, nine ahead of St. Christopher’s, and 16 ahead of Collegiate.

 

The Cougars' four top scorers, all with the skills to play par golf, shot a pedestrian (for them) 77-77-77-78.

 

“Things didn’t click that day for some reason,” said Coach Jeff Dunnington. “It was pretty early, probably five or six holes in, that we knew we weren’t playing the way we could. Golf is a long event. It could get better. The problem was that every time we checked in with them, we were leaking oil a little bit. By the back nine, it was evident we weren’t in the running. That’s just how golf is. It was definitely disappointing.”

 

After the Cougars watched Trinity hoist the trophy and celebrate, they hopped on the bus for the long, soul-searching ride east on I-64.

 

“We went home pretty upset with ourselves,” said Tyler Brand, a junior who missed much of the ’21 season with back issues but had a reasonably healthy ’22 spring. “The lesson is to treat every match and tournament like you’re the underdog and give your all. That’s all you can really do.”

 

In the six days between Preps and states at the par-71 Meadowbrook Country Club course, there was little the Cougars could do to improve technically.

 

“They were disappointed enough that there wasn’t anything I could say that would change anything,” Dunnington said. “We acknowledged that it wasn’t our day. We knew we had to be better. They’re all great golfers, but I think they can start thinking too far ahead. Too far ahead in golf doesn’t mean the next tournament or even the next hole. Their mindset needed to be the next shot.”

 

Golf can be a fickle, maddening, and unforgiving sport. One day, your swing is smooth, your shot is true, and your putting dead solid perfect. Then the next day…well, not so much. Mental preparation can be as important as physical readiness. A mindful approach, intentionality, and short memory are essential.

 

“(After the Prep League), we just said, what happened doesn’t matter,” Barnes said. “We have next week. We have to prove we’re the best team in the state. We were really committed to each other.  We really wanted it this year. We had to go play.”

 

On this sunny, mid-60’s day with a gentle breeze wafting through the trees, the Collegiate golfers arrived one-by-one to Meadowbrook with a seriousness of purpose and high level of focus. They were on a mission.

 

By the end of the day, suffice it to say: Mission Accomplished.

 

Their top four scorers’ 18-hole total was 291, three strokes ahead of runner-up Woodberry Forest in the six-team field.

 

Brand, who shared state player of the year honors with JJ Powell (St. Christopher’s) and Xander Goboy (Catholic), shot 69, an eight-stroke improvement over the previous week.

 

“I was a lot more focused and a lot more comfortable,” he said. “I just went shot-to-shot and put together a good score.”

 

That said…

 

“I try not to think about my score,” he continued. “In between shots, I don’t want to overthink and put pressure on myself. Once I get to the ball, I have a routine I follow that keeps those side thoughts out.”

 

Waiting near the end and crunching the numbers as players finished their rounds, Dunnington and assistant coach Mike Peters were feeling 180 degrees different than they had felt at Old Trail.

 

Barnes finished his round first with a 1-over 72 followed by Pace at 5-over 76. When Brand checked in with a 2-under 69, they sensed, albeit cautiously, that victory was imminent. Smith’s 3-over 74 sealed the deal. Sophomore Sam Hahn shot 78 and senior captain Philip Clarke 81.

 

By virtue of their top-10 finishes, Brand, Barnes, and Smith earned All-State honors.

 

“It was a grind all day long,” Dunnington said. “They’re good golfers. They know they can’t get defeated by one bad shot or one bad hole. They want to play for each other. They did what they had to do.”

    ~Weldon Bradshaw