Bidding to become the first player in 18 years to win the Virginia Women’s Stroke Play and Amateur titles in the same season, Greenlief had no regrets on her performance — six birdies, one bogey, an 18-hole score of a five-under-par 67.

“It was probably the best round of my life,” said Greenlief. “I felt comfortable playing with Whitney. But it’s also really hard competing against a good friend.”

Neuhauser, a senior this fall, and Greenlief, a sophomore, roomed together during the tournament. The two became close this year despite their differing roles.

While Neuhauser was the stroke-average leader for the Cavaliers, Greenlief redshirted after making the team as a walk-on. But under the tutelage of coach Kim Lewellen, Greenlief underwent a successful swing change that began to yield dividends in the spring.

Friday they found themselves on equal footing: Greenlief, the superior ball striker, Neuhauser, better on the greens.

“Her putting was on fire,” said Greenlief, a member at International. “In the end, that was the difference.”

After Greenlief, 18, took an early 2 up lead, Neuhauser, a 21-year-old from Barboursville, made seven birdies on the next 10 holes. But Greenlief weathered the storm with four birdies of her own. When Neuhauser dropped a 40-foot birdie putt at No. 6, Greenlief offered an enthusiastic high-five.

With the match all square, Neuhauser had to make clutch par putts from inside four feet to halve No. 16 and No. 17. The pressure swung to Greenlief when she drove into the trees on No. 18. But the Oakton High grad chipped to the fairway and saved par, draining a clutch 15-foot putt to send the match to extra holes.

Finally Neuhauser wrapped it up with her winning wedge shot from 112 yards out, Greenlief conceding the putt and the match to her friend.

“If she sticks her shot to a foot, all you can do is high-five her and say, ‘Good shot,'” said Greenlief. “We can’t wait for next year. We’re really going to have a great team.”

St. Maxens leads Md. boys

Propelled by medalist Colin St. Maxens, the Maryland junior boys won the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Junior Invitational at Kingsmill.

With St. Maxens (Washington/Maret) firing a two-under-par 69-72 — 141, Maryland (871) was a decisive winner over Virginia (890) and West Virginia (921). Each state sent eight players to the stroke-play competition, with the top six scores combining for the team aggregate. The competition was held at Kingsmill’s Plantation Course Saturday and the famed River Course Sunday.

St. Maxens, a member at Columbia Country Club who will play next year at Penn, edged Maryland teammate Denny McCarthy (Burtonsville/Georgetown Prep). McCarthy shot 70-73 — 143.

Other locals helping Maryland to victory were Josh Eure (Crofton/South River), who shot a 146, Ben Warnquist (Rockville/DeMatha), who shot 148, and Wes Strang (Bethesda/Georgetown Prep), who was at 149. All finished in the top 10 individually.

Wesley Liu (Herndon/Westfield) was the lone player from Northern Virginia in the event. He struggled to a 156.

Md. girls break through

In its first decade, the Virginia-Maryland Junior Girls Team Match competition had been one-sided. But this past weekend, in the 11th annual event, Maryland earned its first victory, claiming the Poindexter Cup.

After Saturday’s four-ball matches at Lexington Golf and Country Club, the teams were tied 2-2. Maryland’s decisive margin came in Sunday’s singles competition where they won five of eight matches. Winners from the Free State were Elyse Smidinger (Crofton), Elizabeth Silbernagel (Fallston), Audra McShane (Ellicott City), Bryana Nguyen (Columbia) and Katy Gradle (Solomons).

All eight players contributed at least a point for Maryland. In Saturday’s four-ball, Clare Connolly (Chevy Chase) and Caroline Trevisian (Potomac) defeated Sophia Montenegro (Oakton) and Brigitte Baker (McLean). Diana Brown (Potomac) combined with Nguyen to defeat Lyberty Anderson (Chesterfield) and Amanda Steinhagen (Oak Hill).

Virginia drops to 9-1-1 in the series.

State Opens this week

Chip Sullivan is among the area’s busy club professionals competing this week in the Maryland Open (Monday-Wednesday) and the Sun Trust State Open of Virginia (Thursday-Sunday).

Sullivan, winner of the Maryland Open in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008, nearly won both titles last summer, but was beaten in the Sun Trust on the fourth playoff hole by Virginia Beach ophthalmologist Roger Newsom. It was another close call in Virginia for Sullivan who was also runner-up in the Virginia Open in 2005 and 2006 and was the low professional in 2004.

Hillendale, in the Baltimore suburbs, hosts the Maryland Open while the Sun Trust will be played at Independence Country Club in Richmond. Among professionals set to tee off in both events include Tommy Joyce (Hidden Valley), David Newsom (River Creek), Eric Cobb (Ingleside), and Rick Schuller (Swaders Sports Park).

John O’Leary (Pleasant Valley) shot a 2-under-par 69, the only player in the field to break 70 in the opening round. Schuler and three-time champion Wayne DeFrancesco (Woodmont) were among those a stroke back.

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