Fun start to the season as the Cats Golf team competed at the John Scott Invitational at London Downs CC in Lynchburg. With 17 teams from all six levels competing the Cats came in 8th place with a score of 347. Our goal for Thursday's Invitational at Lake Monticello is to break 340 and work our way under 330 by mid September. Andrew McCoy lead the way for the Cats with an 83, followed by Sofia Vargas with 84, Jack Jensen with 89 and Harrison Tanner with 91. Nick Vargas also competed and scored 99. Everyone was shaking off the rust and with one more invitational before Monday's first district match it is time to get rolling. Andrew and Sofia just didn't get rolling, but both had four and five hole stretches where they looked like themselves and I see them both in the 70's by Monday. Jack Jensen had a strong day breaking 90 for the first time in a match and don't be surprised if he goes under 85 soon. Freshman Harrison Tanner in his first match had some wonderful holes and if he can stay away from a few double bogeys he could jump right into the mid 80's himself. Glad to see Nick play better and he could be a big help by seasons end. Salem won the tournament with a 302 and had the medalist Kathryn Ha with 69 which is an amazing score on a difficult and really wet golf course.

Wildcat Golf team headed to Lake Monticello yesterday for a ten team Invitational and placed third. Western Albemarle was the overall winner. Andrew McCoy lead the Cats with an 81 and was named to the All Tournament Team. Andrew had a good day all around and I can't wait until Monday at Lakeview - he is going LOW! Sofia Vargas and freshman Harrison Tanner scored 84 for the Cats. Harrison had an excellent day and is just getting better every day. Will be fun to see where he is by seasons end. Sofia is getting closer to being herself and had a strong back nine (39). Jack Jensen had a wonderful 15 holes and the last 3 cost him and scored 92 for a team total of 341. Abby Brooks shot 98 and Nick Vargas 102. Team goal is breaking 330 and we are getting there. We did stop and Chic fila on the way home and that was great - Nick can really eat! Districts start Monday and the team is excited to see what can happen. Go Cats!

Wildcat Golf team had the first 5 team District tourney today (we have 5 of these and the top two teams with the best totals at the end will make regions). Spotswood had a fine day scoring 319, Rockbridge was next with 344, followed by Broadway with 379, Turner Ashby with 381 and Harrisonburg didn't have a qualifying team score. The team needs to keep working if we want to give Spotswood a run for the top spot. Andrew McCoy had a strong performance with a score of 78. He is getting settled in and Monday at Shenvalee (the 2nd district tourney) is going to be fun. He is hitting some huge drives and his short game keeps getting better. Sofia Vargas and Harrison Tanner both score 88. Sofia is going to figure it all out again this week and there is no one that will work harder to do that than her. Harrison had some wonderful holes but his putter let him down today. He still had a strong score but both of these players will go lower on Monday! Jack Jensen had a couple big holes that pushed him to a 90. Still pretty solid and he putted well. Looking for this team to pull it all together and break 330. Nick Vargas had a solid day with 94 and if he keeps working he could be a surprise by September. Irons are solid and just has to work on his short game. Abby Brooks also had a good day with 96 and if she could get more consistent she could also be a factor during our push to Regions.

Rain Out

Great day for the Wildcat Golf team and Andrew McCoy at round two of our Districts four matches. The Cats played at Massanutten (Woodstone) today and Andrew was Medalist scoring an amazing 66! He hit the ball well all day and got up and down when he needed to and also had a chip in. He has a wonderful attitude and works hard at the game. Sofia Vargas also had a great day! She scored 72 and made some great chips and putts. Only a few bad decisions and she could have broken 70 herself. Glad she is coming back into form. She well never be out worked and it pays off. Freshman Harrison Tanner continues to improve with every round. He scored a 75 today and hit some wonderful shots. He made putts when he needed too and I can't wait to see what he does as he grows as a player. Jack Jensen was the fourth scorer today with 88. I know he wants to do better, but still not a bad round. Nick Vargas has his best round with an 89 and could be a factor before the year is done. Abby Brooks came in with 91 and played very well on the back. She will be ready for our home match next week. Our team total of 301 was our best in quite some time. Course is shorter than most, but still a wonderful team score. Next District round will be September 1 at Lexington CC! Spotswood won today with 282, Rockbridge 301, TA 323, Harrisonburg 350 and Broadway 365. Both Spotswood and Rockbridge have built up a pretty good lead and are in good shape of qualifying for Regions.

The Wildcat Golf team had a great day in their first home match of the season against Northside. The Wildcat team pulled out a one shot win with a score of 157 to 158 and sophomore Andrew McCoy took medalist honors scoring an amazing 31 (thinking that is the best nine hole round in school history). Andrew had 5 birdies and didn't hit a bad shot all day. Hard work and a great attitude leads to big things. Senior Abby Brooks stepped up big for the Wildcats with her best round this season. Abby scored 42 and putted really well. She is such a wonderful person it makes it even more fun when she plays well and can enjoy the game. Freshman Harrison Tanner also scored 42 and continues to be a big bright spot for the Cats. He stepped right in and has been what we needed to be competitive as a team. He is a fighter and always gets the best out of each round. Sofia Vargas also scored 42 and I am sure she will be putting in time this weekend to get her score back to where she wants it to be. Sofia is a grinder and needs to enjoy the game that she is so good at. Sophomore Jack Jensen is working hard and scored 46 which by next Tuesday will be 40. He is an athlete and is going through a slight swing change and it is starting to click. Nick Vargas had an up and down day, but is capable of a 40 himself when he is playing well. Will Gibbs is working hard and is ready to jump in Tuesday for his first match. Nick Crawford and Michael Pankey each shot 38 and Joel Hethrington 39 and Will Dent 43 for Northside. Congrats to the Wildcats and be ready for two big match days next week.

What a great day of Golf at Lexington Country Club for the third of four district tournaments. The Wildcats had a great day lead by Sophomore Andrew McCoy and Senior Sofia Vargas. Andrew scored 73 for the day followed by Sofia with 75. Both played great golf and are getting ready for the final push towards the playoffs. Harrison Tanner once again stepped up big with a score of 80 and was even par on the front nine. He is really enjoying the game and it shows in his scores. Jack Jensen is starting to put it all together and had a solid 86. He is getting better at the right time as Regions is closing in. Abby Brooks had another fine day with a score of 89 and looks forward to her final push as a senior captain. Nick Vargas has some fine holes and scored 96. He is getting really close to having a break out round. Spotswood was solid as always scoring a team total of 313 and the Cats rolled in with a score of 314. Best battle so far and the Wildcats are starting to put it together. TA was third with a 358, Harrisonburg 380 and Broadway 411. Ryan Asfa from Spotswood edge out Andrew for medalist with a score of 71.