For kids raised on the lush private courses of lower Montgomery County, golf is a literal birth right. For others, it’s an acquired pursuit.
Count Whitman seniors Alex and Michael Kamargo in the latter group. The twins picked up the sport the summer they entered high school, and quickly played catch-up.
Wednesday at the University of Maryland, when Whitman ended neighborhood-rival Churchill’s five-year stranglehold on the state 4A/3A championship, they owed half of their success to the public-course-trained Kamargo twins, the other half to senior Louis Spear and junior Stephen Fisher.
Whitman (596) not only won the title, it obliterated the state scoring record by eight strokes, set last year by Churchill.
“When we came in Monday (opening round), we thought, ‘Wow, we’re leading this tournament,’” said Alex Kamargo. “Then, of course, Churchill came in one stroke better. But Monday gave us confidence, we knew we could play with them and pull off an upset.”
Whitman was led by Spear (73-70 — 143), who tied for fourth individually. Michael Kamargo (76-74 — 150), Alex Kamargo (76-75 — 151) and Fisher (76-76 — 152) were as steady in the rain on Wednesday as they were in the sun on Monday.
“Churchill beat us in four matches, also in the districts, and the counties,” said Fisher, also a public course player. “They took it to us all year. We just brought it together at the right time.”
Spear, a member at Congressional, was the biggest surprise. His 70 Wednesday was his best round in a public school event. Less than a month ago, in the District 2, a qualifier for the state, he shot 81 on an easier course (Poolesville).
It was the first state title for four-year coach Karl O’Donoghue and his co-coach, wife Anne Marie. It was the sixth state title for Whitman and first since 1999. The only other school with more Maryland titles is Churchill (10).
Churchill was attempting a difficult feat — defending its title with an entirely different cast. The Bulldogs entered undefeated and led Whitman by one stroke after the opening round. But the final round was one to forget as none of its four players broke 75.
Sweet Caroline
After two straight third-place finishes, Eleanor Roosevelt senior Caroline Sweet won her first state title and did it in dominating fashion firing 72-68 — 140 to win the girls title by 10 strokes over defending champion Lauren Smith of Arundel and Haeun Lee of Gaithersburg.
The win completed a perfect season for the William & Mary-bound Sweet, who also won the Prince George’s County and District 3 tournaments.
“That was my goal all year,” said Sweet. “I wanted to shoot the low score at Districts, have the No. 1 seed in the states. I want to win the counties and win the states. I did all those, couldn’t be happier.”
Sweet’s brilliant round Wednesday included an eagle at No. 18, where she hit a 6-iron second shot to within 15 feet and made the putt. Sweet also dropped a 20-footer at No. 4 and a 25-footer at No. 7, both for birdies.
