2021 Season: VISAA tournament

 

It was a day for the history books, but the record will show history being unkind to the Tigers' aspirations to win a third consecutive VISAA golf title. Despite shooting a season record-low score of 286 (-2), Woodberry came up short by two strokes to Collegiate. Woodberry held the previous record low score of 293, in the 2018 VISAA championship. It is the first time in program history that the Tigers lost a golf match while shooting under par.

Benny Haggin concludes his Woodberry career by firing a 66 (-6) to earn co-medalists honors with Tatum Walsh of St. Catherine's. It is a record low 18-hole score to par, as well as the lowest score by a Woodberry golfer since 2002--Chris Brown, 65 (-5) here at Woodberry Forest during the first round of the Prep League tournament. Benny's first-place finish also earns him his third All-State honors, the fourth Tiger golfer to accomplish this feat.

Benny becomes the first Woodberry golfer to average under par--34.86, a new record. He also sets a new career scoring average mark of 36.27, bettering Ted Haley's (1993-95) previous record of 36.62.

Will Brown concludes his first season with a -1 round of 71 to earn All-State honors. Will finishes with the second-lowest third form scoring average (37.72) in program history to Benny Haggin's 2018 mark of 37.56.

Turner Edwards got off to a slow start but steadied himself to card a +1 round of 73 (t11th). Turner ends the season with a scoring average of 36.64, the 14th best among all Woodberry golfers.

Finally, the 2021 golf team of Benny Haggin, John Tandberg, Coops Cooper, Turner Edwards, Bennett Perry, and Will Brown sets the record for the lowest match scoring average for the top six: 37.40, eclipsing the mark of 37.41 set by the undefeated 2002 team.

Please congratulate all these fine young men on a terrific year.

2021 Season: VPL Tournament

 

The Tigers played well today at the 45th VPL Golf Championship at the 6600-yard, par 72-layout at the Old Trail GC in Crozet. Woodberry Forest was seeking its 32nd Prep League title.

Woodberry's team score of 292 (+4) was tied by Collegiate. The first tiebreaker uses the fifth score, so Collegiate edged Woodberry 77-78. It is the Cougars' fourth Prep League title, their first since 2007. It's only the second time in Prep League history that a team other than Woodberry has scored this low--St. Christopher's (285) in 2018.

Congratulations to Captain Benny Haggin, who fired a (-3) 69 to earn his second VPL Player of the Year award, the 23rd time a Woodberry Forest golfer has done so. Benny's round included six birdies. 

 

Turner Edwards overcame a rough start to shoot a (+2) 74, equaled by teammate Will Brown, whose heroic birdie on the 18th hole secured the tie. Both Turner and Will earned all-Prep honors by finishing in the top 10. 

 

Coops Cooper rounded out the scoring with a  (+3) 75. Bennett Perry (+6) 78 and John Tandberg (+7) 79 also competed.

The Tigers have been invited to the VISAA golf championship in Williamsburg on Monday, May 17, where they are the defending champions.

Thanks to the parents who came out today to support the team.

2021 Season: Match report 9

 

The Tigers traveled south of the James River to play at Salisbury Country Club versus the Trinity Episcopal Titans. Even though Woodberry's solid play continues, the Tigers came up on the short end of a 145-149 score, thanks to a record -5 under 31 by Garrett Kuhla from Trinity Episcopal. 

 

Turner Edwards's 35 (-1) led the Tigers, followed by a trio of 38's (+2) from Bennett Perry, Coops Cooper, and Will Brown. Benny Haggin and John Tandberg fired 39's.

 

It is only the fourth time since 1986 that a Woodberry team score of 150 or less wasn't enough to win the match.

• April 16, 2002 - Woodberry Forest 149, Collegiate 146. WFS GC
• March 30, 2008 -- Woodberry Forest 149, Collegiate 145, WFS GC
• May 8, 2018 -- Woodberry Forest 138, St. Christopher's 133, CCV-Westhampton

The Tigers fall to 9-2.

2021 Season: Match report 8

 Returning home to play on back-to-back days, the Tigers looked none the worse for wear. Turner Edwards fired a -1 round of 34 to lead Woodberry to a comfortable 140-180 victory of arch-rival Episcopal High School. Again Coach Hastie filed the match report.

On the A squad Turner Edwards shot the lowest round of 34, followed by Benny Haggin and Coops Cooper who both shot a 35, Bennett Perry with a 36, John Tandberg with a 37, and Will Brown with a 42. The score was 140 (WSF) to 180 (EHS).

As for the B squad, Logan McNabb clinched the low score of 38, followed by Graham Roberts and Chris Nabors at 39, Meade Seay at 41,Thomas Mills at 42, and William Andrews who also shot a 42. The score was 157 (WFS) to 225 (EHS).

Excellent playing out there today!

With the win, Woodberry improves to 9-1 on the season. The even par 140 match score is the second time the Tigers have done so this year and the sixth time they have had a match score in the 140's, a new school record.

Saturday's match also marked the final home match for the Varsity A. Coach Hogan published the following tributes before the match to the golfers in the class of 2021.

 

Thomas Mills - Thomas made the varsity in 2019 as a fourth former and played in two matches. Today, Thomas makes his 2021 debut.

Meade Seay - As a third-former and fourth former, Meade participated in nearly every JV match. In 2019, Meade played in two varsity matches, earning his first letter. Meade has played in two matches in 2021.

John Tandberg - In 2019, John made the JV team and played in three matches. He qualified for one varsity match and earned a letter.  In 2021, John has played in every match and has a scoring average of 38.64

Benny Haggin -Benny played in all 13 varsity matches his third-form year. He was medalist twice, shooting 34 (-1) at home against St. Chris, and 33 (-2) again at home vs. Benedictine. He earned the All-State honors with a round of 74 (+2) as part of the 2018 championship team. In 2019, Benny led the team in scoring with a 36.38 scoring average and had a round of 32 (-3) against Trinity Episcopal at home. He shot 72 (E) at the VPL championship to win the Prep League's individual title. Benny's 74 (+2) at the state championship earned him his second All-State honors.

As captain of this year's squad, Benny has been the medalist in four of the seven events played. He has lowered his scoring average to 34.57, the first Woodberry Forest golfer to have a match scoring average under par.

2021 Season: Match report 7

Looking to redeem themselves after the first loss of the season, the Tigers traveled to Hermitage Country Club to play Collegiate in a rare 18-hole event. Coach Hogan was away from campus attending his daughter's college graduation, so Coach Hastie took the reigns and filed this report:

With wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour, the course proved to be a challenging opponent. But nothing is too challenging for our players. Benny Haggin had a 74, followed by Turner Edwards who shot a respectable 75, John Tandberg with a 77, Coops Cooper at a 78, Bennett Perry with 84, and Meade Seay with a 90. 

Woodberry came away with an impressive 304-321 victory over the Cougars. The win improved the Tigers record to 8-1

2021 Season: Match report 6

Woodberry Forest traveled to Richmond to play the always tough CCV-Westhampton course against St. Christopher’s. The Tigers came out of the short end 143-150. It is the team’s first match loss this year. 

Benny Haggin was low for Woodberry with a one-over-par 35, followed by Bennett Perry (37), and Meade Seay and Coops Cooper (39). Turner Edwards (40) and John Tandberg (41) also played. 

2021 Season: Match report 5

 

Playing under windy conditions against two of the best golf teams in the state, the Tigers shot an impressive even par 140 to edge Collegiate (146) and Trinity Episcopal (155). Senior Benny Haggin continued his good form, earning medalist honors again with a -2 round of 33. Junior Turner Edwards fired a -1 round of 34, while classmates Coops Cooper  +1 36 and Bennett Perry ( +2, 37) completed the Tigers' scoring. Will Brown (39) and John Tandberg (41) also played.

With the wins, Woodberry improves its record to 7-0, its best start since 2012 (8-0). The fifth match score in the 140's ties the season record set by the 2007 Tigers, who went on to finish 3rd in the Prep League.