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.
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.
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.
Turner Edwards '22 has been selected as a finalist for the 2021 USGA-AJGA Presidents' Leadership Award. The USGA-AJGA Presidents' Leadership Award was created to recognize one male and one female junior golfer who demonstrate leadership, character and community service through their involvement with the Leadership Links program – a joint initiative founded by the USGA and AJGA in 2005 to further develop junior golfers through volunteerism.
Seventeen golfers participated in the fall 2021 season, including veterans Coops Cooper '22, Turner Edwards '22, Bennett Perry '22, Winslow Newton '22, William Andrews '23, Logan McNabb '23, Graham Roberts '23, Griffin Warlow '23, Will Brown '24, and Christopher Nabors '24. Newcomers Will Reid '23, Tristan Hays '23, Wyatt Rankin '23, Hunter Hueman '24, Gray Smith '24, Wells Warke '24, and Mack Edwards '25.
The Tigers had one match, October 9, vs. Mercersburg, which allowed Coach Hogan to see most of the new players in competition.Woodberry came out on the short end 18.5-9.5. The margin of victory did not accurately describe the closeness of the matches.
Griffin Warlow and William Andrews played the Mercersburg #1 & #2. Both lost their singles matches and the fourball match. Score: WFS 0 Mercersburg 7
At #3, Graham Roberts won all three points in his singles match. Playing #4, Will Reid also captured a point but the duo lost their 18-hole fourball match to the Mercersburg #3 & #4.
Score: WFS 4 Mercersburg 3
At #5, Gray Smith won 2.5 points in his singles match. Partner #6 Wells Warke won 0.5 points and the fourth formers lost the fourball.
Score: WFS 3 Mercersburg 4
Finally, #8 Wyatt Rankin won 2.5 points in his singles match, while partner #7 Tristan Hays was shut out in his match. The fifth formers lost their fourball.
Score: WFS 2.5 Mercersburg 4.5
On the weekend of November 6-7, six Tiger golfers participated in the 2021 Michael Breed Junior Invitational at Independence Golf Club in Midlothian. Will Brown '24 (second from right) finished second in the Freshman/Sophomore High School division with rounds of 76-75 on the 6,619-yard, par 72 track. As you can see from the picture, the conditions were challenging.
(photo courtesy of the College Prep Golf Tour)
Turner Edwards shot 76-78 (+10) to finish t14th in the Junior/ Senior HS division. Coops Cooper finished t21 with rounds of 76-80, and Logan McNabb finished t44. Bennett Perry and Winslow Newton were unable to complete their tournament play because of injury.
Finally, Bob Hudson '73 once again hosted the group on Tuesday, October 26, for a day of golf at the Country Club of Culpeper. The golfers thank Bob for his generosity and hospitality. The windy conditions provide a good test.
Hogan is one of seven senior golfers (50 and over) who made the field of 120, which features 29 current collegians and other prominent VSGA title holders.
Follow Coach Hogan here.