Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Tigers victorious in 2024 season opener

 

Woodberry Forest opened its 2024 campaign with a narrow 150-156 victory at home over defending Prep League champion Trinity Episcopal. The Tigers got off to a slow start--seven over par in the first three holes--but rallied to only lose three more shots over the final six.

Woodberry was led by Will Brown and Mack Edwards, who both carded two-over-par rounds of 37. Chris Nabors and James Doyle fired a pair of 38s to complete the scoring. Tommy McMillan (39) and Henry Cardwell (40) also played.

Woodberry (1-0, 1-0) plays on Thursday at home vs. Collegiate

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

2023 VPL Championship: Same Old Story

History repeats itself. For the third consecutive year, the Tigers came up one shot short of a Prep League title. Collegiate shot 299 to Woodberry’s 300, giving the Cougars their second title in three years. 


For the second straight season, the Tigers had five All-Prep golfers by virtue of finishing in the top 10. 

Mack Edwards shot 71 to finish third, his second All-Prep honor. Tommy McMillan (2nd All-Prep) and Will Brown (3rd All-Prep) shot 76, and Chris Nabors and James Doyle (1st time All-Prep) both fired 77.  
 
Coach Marc Hogan was later names co-Coach of the Year.

Final
Collegiate 299
Woodberry Forest 300
Trinity Episcopal 306
St. Christopher’s 308
Norfolk Academy 316
 
 

State Champions!

The Tigers put together a memorable effort and took the 2023 Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Assocation's title at Meadowbrook Country Club. The 291 score defeated second-place Collegiate by six shots. 

With the win, Woodberry garnered its sixth state title. The Tigers have participated in every VISAA Championship since its establishment in 2008.

See this article for more details.



Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Tigers defeat defending state golf champions

 

Woodberry traveled to Richmond today to play the VISAA Division III golf champions Veritas on the tricky Belmont Golf Course. The Tigers prevailed 149-162, led by a trio of one-over-par rounds of 37 by Will Brown, Chris Nabors, and James Doyle. Tommy McMillan rounded out the scoring with a 38.

Woodberry improves to 2-2 overall and next plays at Blue Ridge on Friday.
Will Brown's lie on hole 8 after his drive. The Woodberry captain salvaged a par.

Woodberry loses to St. Christopher's

 On Tuesday, April 4, the Tigers traveled to Richmond to play the #1 ranked St. Christopher's Saints at the always challenging CCV-Westhampton course. Woodberry came out on the short end of a 138-146 score. The 2 over-par total by the Saints was the second lowest score ever at the CCV-Westhampton course in this long-time rivalry.

Third former James Doyle (Charlotte) was the low score for the Tigers with a one-over-par round of 35.

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Woodberry wins opener, then loses to Collegiate

The Tigers opened the 2023 campaign on Friday, March 23, in Charlottesville vs. Covenant. Playing the East course at Farmington Country Club, Woodberry scored an easy 142-169 victory. Fourth former Tommy McMillan shared medalist honors with teammates fifth former Gray Smith and third former Wade Logan, both making their first varsity starts.

On the following Tuesday, Woodberry faced two-time defending state champion Collegiate at the Country Club of Virginia's Tuckahoe Creek course. The Tigers came up just short, l49-151. Captain Will Brown was the low Woodberry golfer with an even par round of 36.

Fifth former Chris Nabors tee shot on hole 4 perfectly captured the day.




Friday, May 20, 2022

2022 Season recap

Ten golfers qualified in February for the 2022 Woodberry Forest golf team. After a two-week spring break, the Tigers opened their season against arch-rival Episcopal High School at the Mount Vernon CC. Woodberry continued its impressive winning streak against the Maroon with a 151-174 win. 

The home opener was against St. Chris. Led by Coops Cooper's even par 35, the Tigers defeated the Saints 145-152. Collegiate was next up, and Woodberry again had a strong performance against the defending state and league champions, beating the Cougars, 145-148, with third former Tommy McMillan gaining medalist honors with a 35.

After convincing wins over St. Anne's Belfield and Blue Ridge, the Tigers traveled to the Westhampton course to face St. Christopher's. In a sign of good things to come, Woodberry won a close match, 148-154. Coops Cooper again led the way with a -2 round of 34.The Tigers then faced two IAC opponents, St. Alban's and Georgetown Prep and got two more wins to raise their record to 8-0. Third former Mack Edwards fired a -2 round of 68 against the Little Hoyas to secure the victory.

Woodberry got three more wins before the Easter break, over Benedictine (140-197), Covenant (144-207), and Bishop O'Connell (144-172) to get to 11 wins, the most since the undefeated season of 2005. 

The following Tuesday the Tigers traveled to Salisbury CC to face the #1-ranked Trinity Episcopal Titans. In a heartbreaker, Woodberry lost its first match of the season, 147-149, while defeating Mercersburg 149-160.

The regular season concluded with four more victories: at eventual VISAA Division III champion Eastern Mennonite (143-149); at STAB (131-191); at Collegiate (145-155); and at home vs. Trinity Episcopal (142-146). The 16-1 record was the best since the undefeated 1994 season (19-0).

The Prep League tournament was held at Old Trail GC in Crozet for the fourth time. Woodberry had five golfers finish in the top 10 and earn All-Prep: Mack Edwards (co-medalist) 71; Turner Edwards 74, Will Brown 74, Tommy McMillan 75, and Bennett Perry 75. The 294 team total was only good enough for second, and Trinity Episcopal edged the Tigers by one (293).

The following week the VISAA state championship was held at Meadowbrook CC in Richmond. Again Woodberry had a strong performance, shooting a 294 with three golfers finishing in the top ten and earning All-State: Mack Edwards (72); Turner Edwards (73); and Will Brown (74). However, the Tigers were again narrowly defeated by three shots by Collegiate (291).

While a mere six strokes kept the Tigers from a perfect season, the 2022 campaign saw Woodberry have its best record in almost 30 years. The team set records for the most scores of par or better (19) in matches, as well as setting the all-time scoring average (37.22). And Coach Hogan earned his 200th career dual match victory. 

Mack Edwards joined his father Frank Edwards '88 as the first father-son duo to win the Prep League's medalist and the school's William H. White Golf Trophy as third formers. Turner Edwards won his second Sam A. Dougherty Prize, this time for his outstanding leadership as captain. Finally, Will Brown again won the Thomas D. Bond MVP award and was elected captain for the 2022-23 squad.