The golf season is underway in the Richmond area. Following the Lake Chesdin Invitational and Dr. Jack Frable Invitational, these are the top five teams around the region.
1. Midlothian: The Trojans boast some high-end talent with a ton of experience after winning a region championship last season. Midlothian has great team chemistry and a group that supports each other, said Trojans coach John Pruitt. He added there is some inexperience on the back end, but no lack of talent. Midlothian won at Lake Chesdin with a 290. There are three big returns for the Trojans this season, starting with junior Jackson Wright, a first-team All-Metro selection last season. He tied for medalist honors at Lake Chesdin alongside Harrison Beaudoin, a sophomore and all-state selection last season. A second-team All-Metro pick last season, sophomore Graham Weinstein tied for sixth. Sophomores Owen Barker and Chase Bickel, in addition to senior Seth Gorman, are key newcomers to watch.
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2. Douglas Freeman: The Mavericks were the Region 5C runners-up last season. After graduating three of their top six golfers, Freeman needs to replace some leadership, but the top three are very experienced. Seniors Joseph Winston and Charlie White were first-team All-Metro picks last season. Winston finished tied for sixth at Lake Chesdin alongside sophomore Ben Cowgill. Freeman finished tied for second at the team. Cowgill also won the RGA Junior. Some of the newcomers, including seniors Thomas Rader and Drew Danforth, junior Grayden Thouron and sophomore Matthew Berrey, will need to step up.
3. Monacan: The Chiefs are a talented, experienced team led by back-to-back All-Metro player of the year Talon Dingledine. Dingledine finished second at the Dr. Jack Frable Invitational and tied for medalist honors at the Lake Chesdin Invitational, where the Chiefs tied for second at 299. Grayson Gardner finished tied for fourth there and finished 14th at the Dr. Jack Frable Invitational, while Cooper Dillman tied for 11th and Aydan Smith tied for 16th. All three are seniors. Senior Luke Brill and sophomore Carter Sames will be two newcomers to watch as the Chiefs go for their sixth straight Region 4B championship.
Two-time All-Metro golfer of the year Talon Dingledine returns this season for Monacan, which opens this season ranked third in the T-D Top 5.
4. Deep Run: The Wildcats aren’t as deep as past seasons, but they have some quality returners. That includes first-team All-Metro pick Parker Noonan and second-teamer Carter Bransford. Noonan shot 2 under to finish third at the Dr. Jack Frable Invitational. Bransford shot 7 under to win the girls division. The only other returner for Deep Run is sophomore Sam Francis.
5. Cosby: The Titans shot 310 at the Lake Chesdin Individual to finish fourth, with Lucas MacDonald tying for sixth.
Atlee sophomore Laddie Decker (left) and Hanover’s Walker McLamb watch Decker’s drive on the second hole of the Hanover County quad at The Crossings Monday. The quad kicked off the fourth week of the 2022 prep golf season.
Atlee: After finishing as the Region 4B runner-up last season, the Raiders return three of their top four golfers. Laddie Decker leads the way as a second-team All-Metro selection. Both junior Evan Salapka and senior Matt Shields are three-year starters. It’s a mature team with six seniors along with freshman James Russell and sophomore Jack Pace. Atlee finished fifth at the Lake Chesdin Invitational after shooting a 311. Salapka tied for fourth.
James River: The Rapids have a good top four who can all shoot par on any given day. Leading the way is sophomore Luca Rinaldi, who won the Dr. Jack Frable Invitational and finished 11th at the Lake Chesdin Invitational, when James River finished sixth. Sophomore Chase Boswell and seniors Owen Kreuger and Wyatt Geisel are the other big names to watch for the Rapids.
From the Archives: Country Club of Virginia
08-18-1961 (cutline): Time out–Four of the seeded entrants take time from their chores in the state men’s tennis tournament which opening a four-day stand at Country Club of Virginia yesterday. Left to right, Maurice Everette (No. 8 from Lynchburg), C.W. Shackleford (No. 3 from Danville), Bruce Sylvia (No. 1 from Richmond), and Eddie Phillips (No. 2 from Richmond).
07-06-1969 (cutline): Sean Landers tends bar at the Country Club of Virginia. Irishman is organizing branch of the Irish Republican Army.
05-31-1954 (cutline): Pool opens at Country Club of Virginia
06-24-1970 (cutline) Great Day for a Dip Summer is here, and the youngsters have begun to jam the swimming pools. Here, at the Country Club of Virginia, life guard Katherine Hipskind takes a moment off from her duties to try out the diving board. Miss Hipskind is a junior at Longwood College.
09-01-1963 (cutline): Redecoration of St. Andrew’s room preserves 1910 architectural features. Peacock blue and jade green are predominant colors in new scheme.
09-01-1963 (cutline): Miss Jamgocian investigates a red fortuny curtain. Painting is attributed to S.L. Waldo, 1763-1861.
07-19-1953 (cutline): Veterans of many city tournaments talk during 1953 Edication which opened yesterday at CCV. From left are Cliff Miller, Al Dickinson and Bob Figg; Only Dickinson survived first day.
