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Wootton's golfers talk about their unbelievable season. For more videos click the videos button above the stalls.
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By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.com

Wootton’s golfers can only assume that their challenge at this year’s state tournament starting Oct. 23, will come from outside Montgomery County, the county riddled with by far the most previous champions.

That’s because Wootton, this year’s district champions, hasn’t even been challenged in Montgomery County this year.

So when it came to Tuesday’s Montgomery County championship and especially when next week’s state finals begin, the Patriots show little concern.

“We’re looking pretty good,” senior Andrew Stein said of the team’s prospects in the state tournament. “We won districts by a good 14 strokes and no one really played the best they could. We’re pretty confident.”

Wootton’s four shooters are seniors Brian Hollins, Dylan Skarupa and Andrew Stein and sophomore Connor Tendall. Those four combined to shoot a ridiculous 299 at districts, which is considered the real county championship, on Sept. 29. They also shot a 1-under-par 179 at Worthington Manor Golf Club in Frederick, Md., earlier this year.

The Patriots substituted senior Patrick Williams for Tendall in Tuesday’s scramble at Rattlewood Golf in Mt. Airy, Md. Wootton still won, beating Churchill in a one-hole playoff by shooting an 8-under-par.

Whitman followed Churchill with a -7, Damascus, Quince Orchard, Gaithersburg and Bethesda-Chevy Chase all shot 5-under, Sherwood, Blake, Magruder and Paint Branch were all at -4 and Walter Johnson rounded out the Top-13 teams with a 2-under-par team score.

“We’ve been through our matches with this county and we’ve kind of run through them,” Hollins said. “Every single kid we’re bringing to states has a chance. … We’re looking forward to individual, but more importantly as a team we’re trying to get a state championship for our school.”

Whitman’s golfers and Coach Karl O’Donoghue didn’t hesitate in saying Wootton is the overwhelming favorite for the state title. They also said they wouldn’t be surprised if the Patriots topped their state team scoring record of 596, which the Vikings set last year by eight strokes.

But if there’s anyone who knows not to put too much stock in expectations, it’s the Vikings. Whitman rose from the lower ranks last year and ended up winning the state championship, ending Churchill’s five-year run at the top.

“Anything can happen,” said Whitman senior Steven Fisher, who will compete at states individually after Whitman didn’t qualify for the team competition this season. “It’s only two days, two rounds, 36 holes. I think anyone in the top 30 can win.”

Churchill is looking to rebound from last year’s stumble. The Bulldogs led after the first day but Whitman bulldozed them on Day 2. Bulldogs Coach Mike Fisher said his team will have to pull off a stunning upset like Whitman’s last season if it’s going to bring the state championship back to Churchill.

The Bulldogs will rely on district champions Dianna Brown and Gary Raizon, who each won their second straight district crown this year, a feat never before accomplished in Maryland.

“They’re pretty unstoppable, at least this year and last year,” Coach Fisher said. “For both of them to win districts two years in a row, that’s something special. … They’re special people. They’ve got a competitive spirit inside.”

Last year as a sophomore, Brown was nervous entering her first postseason. Now the junior is calmer and ready to try to improve on an 11th-place finish in the state individual tournament. Raizon, who finished around 20th at states last year, said he also feels more relaxed this year.

“Maybe I’ll make a run,” Raizon said. “We’ll see.”