High school golf preview: Kellam aims for return to state tournament, Bayside’s Amber Mackiewicz heads list of top individual contenders
Five things you should know
Time for Knight moves?
Despite a 10-1 record, Kellam finished third in last fall’s Class 6 Region A Tournament, trailing Chesterfield County rivals Cosby and James River, and thus failed to reach the state tourney. But the Knights, under first-year coach Sonny Blackmon, bring back a strong group that could contend for region and state honors. Returning standout Matthew Tigrett (with an average of 73 strokes per round) is joined by fellow senior Michael McIntosh and juniors Jarell Armenio and Caiden Brewton, who have averaged 74s, according to Blackmon. Armenio already has shared an individual medal this season. Tigrett tied for seventh in the region and for 24th at state last season.
Jamestown sizzles early
After winning the state Class 4 crown in the spring of 2021, Jamestown’s traditionally strong program was the runner-up to Blacksburg last fall by 13 strokes. Despite losing some seasoned players, the Eagles wasted no time showing they’ll contend again, jumping to a 23-stroke lead over second-place New Kent through the first two Bay Rivers District rounds. Jamestown’s Ryan Leach, Michael Bennett and Whit Coggin were first, third and seventh, respectively, through 36 holes in the BRD individual standings. Bennett shared medalist honors in a July qualifier at Bide-A-Wee in Portsmouth for the VSGA Junior Stroke Play Championship in Great Falls.
Seeking Mr. and Ms. October
Players around Virginia will try to peak as we ring in October. VHSL region tournaments must be done by Oct. 4, and the state tourneys are Oct. 10 (for Classes 2, 4 and 6) and Oct. 11 (for Classes 1, 3 and 5). Girls can play zone qualifiers on Oct. 17 and 18, and the VHSL Girls Open Championship is set for Oct. 24. All Hampton Roads qualifiers will need to travel out of the area for everything but the girls zone qualifiers. Heritage Oaks in Harrisonburg will host Classes 6 and 5, Stonehenge in Chesterfield County will be the site for Classes 4 and 3, and Olde Mill in Laurel Fork will be the venue for Classes 2 and 1.
This one’s for the girls
Golf is a rare VHSL sport where girls and boys compete. Girls play from shorter tees, and Bayside’s Amber Mackiewicz is among the best of a good crop in Hampton Roads. That’s especially true for Grafton, where coach Jim Bowling said the Clippers’ goal is to qualify for the state Class 4 Tournament. They missed by one spot last season, placing third in Region A. Eight of Bowling’s 13 players, including three of the top four, are girls. No. 1 Lilly McDermott, a sophomore, shot 66 at Cypress Creek to win a Bay Rivers District match already.
Around the area
Bayside should contend in Class 5 Region A behind incomparable senior Amber Mackiewicz, who fired a medal-winning 68 on Aug. 17, and classmates Kaleigh Dean and Brayden Miles, as well as juniors Max Eppleman and Ben Trinh. Coach Healey Eakes cited “unfinished business” after last year, which brought an 8-3 finish without a state team appearance.
First Colonial, also 8-3 last year, brings back sophomore Ben Kablach, who tied for eighth at last year’s Class 5 state tourney with a 72. Junior Bryce Jones (who tied for 26th at state), senior Nash Bangor (who tied for 35th), senior Porter Hurt, junior Thomas Gourley and sophomore Jake Chavis also could contribute.
Cox shot 321 in its first match as Barrett Pendergast notched a 76 to share the medal with Princess Anne’s Fin Worrall.
Junior Trey Marrion, who placed second in the Class 4 state tournament last year with a 68, is back to anchor a Great Bridge team that could challenge Jamestown in the region. The Wildcats have a deep team with senior Ryan Wheeler, who excelled at the Eastern Amateur, along with junior Ava Miranda and four quality sophomores: Aiden Townsend, Julia Rafter, Jack Sawyer and Michael Stidham.
Miranda Husband Wood (75 for 18 holes), Manor’s Dylan Hall (38 for nine) and Grassfield’s Aiden Taormina (40 for nine) have won medals.
Justin Morris is in his first year coaching Kempsville, which has dedicated this season to its former coach John Cinnamond, who died last fall. The Chiefs have strong returnees in sophomore Morgan Schwartz, senior Tyler Couillard and junior Jackson Byrd, along with sophomore newcomer David Lee. Schwartz has played college-prep tour events.
Menchville not only grabbed the early Peninsula District lead by 46 strokes over Gloucester, the Monarchs also held the top four spots in the individual medal standings with leader Thomas Aman, Luke Combs, Bruce Hitt and Neel Palikonda. Three Dukes — Gunner Healy, Andrew White and Blake Sibley — hold the next three spots as Gloucester seems ticketed for second in the PD.
Maury, led by senior Tucker Poole, a returning state qualifier, hopes to repeat last year’s 11-1 season and improve on its fourth-place region finish. Sophomore Landon Carraway, senior Nick Butler and Lincoln March will try to help coach Jack Baker’s Commodores.
Churchland has one of the area’s best players in senior Jonathan McEwen. Seniors Austin English and Jeremiah House, sophomore Joshua House, sophomore Jay Plemmons and freshman Dylan Detweiler will try to learn from him and progress during the Truckers’ season.
Norview, with Stanley Edmonds debuting as the coach, said his team expects to bounce back from an 0-6 season and be competitive with Henry Hanna (averaging 90, the best among the Pilots), Lauren Van Fausslen, Joe Harter-Harris and Evida Hatcher.
Lake Taylor, coached by Ralph Gee, is trying to find newcomers to support Howard Holland and Christopher Hankins.
Booker T. Washington’s team is inexperienced, but first-year coach Gerard Campbell said it will have at least two freshmen, two sophomores and two juniors. “All the students are also members of the marching band and have already developed camaraderie amongst the group,” he said.
High 5
Amber Mackiewicz, Bayside
Now a senior, she has committed to play for James Madison and hopes to add to her remarkable success. In the spring of 2021, she won the state Class 5 individual championship — primarily against boys — leading the Marlins to second place in the team standings, and was the Girls’ Open runner-up. Last fall, she was fourth in the Girls’ Open with a 1-over-par 71, just one shot off the lead. She helped Bayside win its region in the spring of 2021. This summer, she reached the VSGA Women’s Amateur semifinals, losing to eventual champion Kendall Turner, a Great Bridge High graduate and future JMU teammate.
Jonathan McEwen, Churchland
Having placed second in last year’s Class 4 Region A tournament with a 68, faring so well in this year’s Eastern Amateur should give the senior confidence. He shot a first-round 65 and finished 13th at 2-under 278, ahead of numerous current collegians. McEwen was 18th at the state Class 4 tournament as a sophomore but wants to improve on the 80 that netted him 30th place as a junior. He has an excellent chance to be a four-time state qualifier.
Matthew Tigrett, Kellam
The senior has been a solid four-year starter for the Knights and has played tournament golf since his pre-teen days. As a freshman in 2019, he took third place in the state Class 6 tournament with a 2-under-par 70 at Magnolia Green. Last fall, he fired a 77 to tie for seventh place at state. He’s now part of a formidable core of upperclassmen for the Knights.
Trey Marrion, Great Bridge
The junior is one of the area’s most accomplished players inside and outside the VHSL ranks. He was especially impressive at Class 4 state last fall, shooting 68 to finish as runner-up by one stroke to Blacksburg’s Jake Albert. This summer, he fired three rounds in the 60s to share 14th at the Eastern Amateur in Portsmouth, leaving plenty of college players looking up at him on the leaderboard.
Ryan Leach, Jamestown
Anchoring a perennial powerhouse, he has grabbed the early lead for the Bay Rivers District season’s individual medal. He shared 14th place at state a year ago.
