Any golfer will tell you. The only thing worse than a bad round of golf is a slow one.
Wednesday at Laytonsville Golf Course, Magruder senior Hilary Lawson had a perfect day — beautiful weather, a fast round and the winning score. Lawson shot a 2-over-par 73 to run away with the District 2 (Montgomery County) Girls Championship by eightstrokes.
When Lawson and her two partners walked off the 18th green, it was less than four hours after they teed off. The next foursome, which included defending champion Alex Brown of Churchill, lagged five holes behind.
“I enjoy playing with fast people,” said Lawson. “It keeps your tempo up. You don’t have to wait.”
Lawson’s group was able to play quickly, in large part, because of the withdrawal of Blake’s Lauren Levine. Playing as a threesome also suited Churchill junior Cynthia Iselin (81), who finished second.
“Playing slow messes with your [head],” said Iselin. “Ready golf, that’s the way to go.”
Lawson has book-ended her high school career with District 2 titles, also winning as a freshman. She overpowered the short Laytonsville course Wednesday. At the 412-yard par-five 4th hole, she hit a driver and a wedge, leaving herself with a 15-foot putt for eagle.
Lawson missed only two fairways Wednesday. Her round included two birdies and four bogeys. Her score was especially good considering the greens at Laytonsville were sandy and full of aeration holes.
“They were ridiculous,” said the Maryland-bound Lawson. “You’re putting over 1-inch holes.”
The win helped erase the disappointment of last year when Lawson shot 78 on the same course, finishing seven strokes behind Brown. Wednesday was a reversal of fortune as Brown, stuck in a slow group, shot an 82.
“Last year was disappointing, knowing I could play so much better,” said Lawson. “That’s why I came back this year. I really wanted to win this.”
