Albemarle High’s golf team didn’t just win Monday in the rain at the Commonwealth District Championships—the Patriots dominated.
Albemarle pieced together a 289 score as a team at the Lee’s Hill course in Fredericksburg, outpacing second place Mountain View by 42 strokes to grab a district title. Colonial Forge and North Stafford tied for third place with a 343.
“The first nine was played through a steady rain,” said Albemarle coach Greg Maynard. “I was really great play by the players, quite impressive.”
Maynard indicated the last time he could remember the Patriots being in the 280s was when the squad’s home course was at Meadowcreek.
Albemarle’s Lauren Eklund was able to take advantage of the slower greens due to the rain, shooting a 70 to lead the Patriots. But sophomore Caleb Martin checked in at 71 for Albemarle’s number two score. Martin has come on as one of the strongest Patriots of late. After battling to qualify in the fifth or sixth spot for Albemarle early in the year, Martin no longer has to play his way into the lineup, he’s holding down one of the top spots regularly.
Wilson DeSimini fired a 73 and Tony Liu carded a 75. Dylan Herold wasn’t far behind with a 77, but only the top four scores count toward the team tally. That kind of depth could make Albemarle a contender for a Group AAA berth next week when the Northwest tournament cranks up next Monday at the Gauntlet Gold Club in Stafford County.
