Gary Raizon and Peter Johns made the golf team at Churchill last year, but neither played a significant match. Marc Youngentob and Steven Bernitt weren’t as fortunate as they were cut from the team.
But Monday at Poolesville Golf Club, the unlikely foursome propelled Churchill to District 2 Championship.
While Raizon shot an even-par 71 to claim medalist honors, Youngentob (74), Bernitt (76) and Johns (77) finished in the top 15 as Churchill (298) defeated fellow state qualifiers Wootton (304) and Magruder (314). It was the sixth straight District 2 title for Churchill. Each year, the Bulldogs do it with a different cast.
“Anyone who makes our team is a good player,” said Raizon. “You just have to wait your turn to play.”
With a glut of players whose games are honed on private courses near the wealthy Potomac ZIP code, Churchill is at a significant advantage. When the Bulldogs play in the state championship at the University of Maryland, Oct. 22-24, they will be shooting for their sixth straight state title.
“Any one of us has the potential win the (individual) title,” said Youngentob. “But that’s not what we’re there for. Our goal is always the team championship.”
Playing virtually every day at Lakewood Country Club has transformed Raizon from a 15 handicap as a freshman to a 1. On Monday, he played the first three holes in 2-over, but after that, didn’t make another bogey. Raizon’s performance was no fluke, two days earlier in a practice round at Poolesville, Raizon shot an identical 71.
On Monday, Raizon made a 20-foot putt from the fringe for a birdie at No. 9 and an 8-footer for a birdie at No. 17 to edge Wootton junior Andrew Stein by a stroke. This summer, Raizon also beat Stein in clutch fashion in the Lakewood Junior Club Championship, making a birdie at the final hole.
“Gary’s a player who can get hot and make a lot of birdies,” said Churchill coach Arnold Tarzy. “In the last year, he and [Youngentob] have improved dramatically.”
Pitches and putts
» Marc Youngentob whittled his handicap from 10 to 3 with the help of Woodmont Country Club pro Wayne DeFrancesco.
» Churchill’s most experienced player, senior Connor Wielgus, 3-putted the final hole and shot an 81, failing to qualify for the state tournament.
» Wielgus, Steven Bernitt and Peter Johns are members at Avenel.
