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Provided by the VSGA's Andrew Blair:

JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL WINS THE 2nd INDEPENDENCE GOLF CLUB HIGH SCHOOL INVITATIONAL
MIDLOTHIAN -- On a rainy final day at the 2nd Independence Golf Club High School Invitational, local school James River High School shot a final-day total of 14-over-par 302 to win the event at Independence Golf Club (6,677 yards, par 36-36-72).

James River, located in Midlothian, Va., concluded the tournament at 21-over 597 to finish four shots clear of first round leader Carlisle School (601, +25), a private school in Martinsville. Jamestown High School (305) and Westfield High School (300) closed the event six back at 27-over 603. With the victory, James River took home the Richard V. Smith Trophy, honoring the longtime former VSGA director of competitions.

Steady rainfall fell throughout much of the day, making scoring conditions more difficult, but James River rising senior Michael McLean, 17, of Midlothian delivered a team-best final round score of 2-over 74. Fellow senior Nicholas Austin fired 4-over 76 and paced the squad over the two days with an even-par 144 aggregate. Team members Eamon Schwartz and Sean Dougherty had it to two under at one point on the back nine, before contributing final day scores of 76.

McLean converted up and down par-savers at the last two holes, including blasting to 5 feet out of the right greenside bunker at the par-4 finishing hole to help the team secure the victory. McLean played steadily for much of the day, a key in the wet conditions.

"My hands are still pruny," McLean said. "I kept it in play, kept plugging along and didn't make any big numbers."

McLean and Austin have been teammates for four years and both played in the Virginia High School League Group AAA championship as individuals last fall. Their victory in this young, invitation-only event holds its share of significance for the team and program.

"It's great. Michael and Nick have been together for four years, but everyone's worked really hard and I'm really proud of the way they played with the weather," said James River coach Jim McLean.

Austin, 17, tied for third low individual honors, but admittedly the last day four over rounds by Schwartz and Dougherty were instrumental to the team's triumph.

"It feels really good to share this with the whole team," said Austin, twice a runner-up at the VHSL event as an individual. "For Eamon and Sean to shoot 76 was outstanding."

Said McLean: "Eamon and Sean really stepped up today. We have them to thank for winning."

Carlise School junior Alex Wise (Eden, N.C.) finished as the low individual for the team at even-par 144, while Martinsville residents Dylan Jensen and Jack Adkins had final round scores of 74 and 75, respectively.

For Williamsburg-based Jamestown High School, Seth Nooe (73), Tyler Wallace (75) and Bryan Giles (77) contributed totals as did Jamestown sophomore Victoria Newbury (Williamsburg), who took home girls medalist honors with a 10-over 154 (74-80) aggregate.

Westfield High School senior Brian Keith shot a team-best final round 72 in closing round action, while 16-year-old Wesley Liu led the way over the two days (146, +2) for Westfield, which compiled a final round team-best aggregate score of 12-over 300.

Among the two competitors competing individually in the event, two-time VSGA Junior Match Play champion Michael Moyers, 17, of Stanardsville (William Monroe High School) shot a final-day best 2-under 70 to earn individual medalist honors for the tournament at 2-under 142. Moyers played in some of the heaviest rainfall of the day, making his score that much more impressive. Starting his round on the back nine, he made birdies at Nos. 10 and 13 before steady rains started to fall toward the conclusion of his first nine. Unfazed, Moyers pitched in for birdie from 30 yards short of the flagstick at No. 18. He made a birdie against two bogeys on his inward half.

"It was harder out there than you can imagine. The last 12 holes, it poured," Moyers said after his round. The heaviest rains relented some toward the conclusion of the day. "I had my stretch in the first seven holes, but when it started raining, [scoring] got really hard."

Hickory High School's John Dawson was second low individual with a 1-under 143 (70-73) total.

Independence Golf Club, owned by the VSGA Foundation, features a 22,000-square-foot clubhouse, an 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed championship course and a nine-hole Sawyer Short Course, layed out by Fazio. In addition, the club includes a separate junior clubhouse with dormitories for campers. The VSGA Foundation continues to champion junior golf initiatives, particularly those that benefit at-risk children. The club's Robins Junior Program camps and clinics not only teach fundamentals of the game, but also empowering life lessons.

MIDLOTHIAN -- Results following the final round of the 2nd Independence Golf Club High School Invitational at Independence Golf Club (6,677 yards, par 36-36-72) on Wednesday, Aug. 27. The best four of five scores counted toward the team's aggregate.

JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL (295-302-597): Nicholas Austin, 68-76-144; Michael McLean, 75-74-149; Sean Dougherty, 75-76-151; Dawson Hobbs, 77-82-159; Eamon Schwartz, 76

CARLISLE SCHOOL (294-307-601): Alex Wise, 68-76-144; Dylan Jensen, 71-74-145; Jack Adkins, 76-75-151; Cole Rothrock, 79-82-161

JAMESTOWN HIGH SCHOOL (298-305-603): Tyler Wallace, 73-75-148; Seth Nooe, 76-73-149; Bryan Giles, 75-77-152; Victoria Newbury, 74-80-154 (girls' medalist); Bruce Cordelli, 86-84-170

WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL (303-300-603): Wesley Liu, 71-75-146; Brian Keith, 77-72-149; Jack Debell, 79-73-152; Tim Ritter, 76-80-156; Jimmy Saunders, 83-84-167

DEEP RUN HIGH SCHOOL (309-306-615): Chris O'Neill, 76-73-149; Jason Schumacher, 77-76-153; Mikey Cantor, 76-80-156; Mason Bryan, 81-77-158; Zach Schwab, 80-83-163

FLOYD E. KELLAM HIGH SCHOOL (305-311-616): Alex Lloyd, 76-76-152; Ryan Kilmon, 75-78-153; Wade Wawner, 76-80-156; Trey Smith, 79-77-156; Chase Duffy, 78-80-158

WOODBERRY FOREST SCHOOL (311-310-621): Jim Frazier, 72-76-148; Johnny Kyger, 75-75-150; Mills Gorrie, 81-83-164; Thomas Walter, 83-81-164; Chamberlain Hill, 87-78-165

CHANTILLY HIGH SCHOOL (309-321-630): Ji Soo Park, 73-72-145; Victor Monte, 73-80-153; Steve Aanstoos, 82-82-164; Matt Litton, 81-87-168; Mike Gagne, 105

HICKORY HIGH SCHOOL (310-321-631): John Dawson, 70-73-143; Jesse Dillon, 74-83-157; Lauren Coughlin, 80-86-166; Tod Foshee, 88-79-167; Hunter Spencer, 86-87-173

FRANK W. COX HIGH SCHOOL (311-320-631): Chris Valianos, 70-78-148; Jonathan Harris, 83-77-160; Moss Clark, 92-80-172; Andrew Becraft, 86-87-173; Brandon Gray, 85

MONACAN HIGH SCHOOL (318-332-650): Ryan Pratt, 72-74-146; Brian Critzer, 75-84-159; Braden Cosner, 81-80-161; Gavin Parker, 90-95-185; Cameron Young, 98-94-192

COSBY HIGH SCHOOL (325-335-660): Kevin Clarke, 75-86-161; Katherine Connell, 81-83-164; Collin Pearson, 87-78-165; Taylor Frederick, 82-91-173; Todd Hardwick, 88-88-176

CLOVER HILL HIGH SCHOOL (322-342-664): Allan Day, 74-80-154; Zach Cutter, 83-79-162; Lee Roberts, 83-87-170; Stuart Laras, 82-96-178; Carter King, 98-104-202

MILLS E. GODWIN HIGH SCHOOL (313-355-668): Stephan Simmons, 78-87-165; Scott Welch, 87-82-169; Erich Snyder, 77-92-169; Brad Snyder, 80-94-174; Will MacIlwaine, 78-96-174

NORTHUMBERLAND HIGH SCHOOL (341-335-676): Zach Hall, 79-77-156; Kelly Sumner, 84-86-170; Justin Welch, 89-85-174; Devan Cockrell, 89-87-176; Laura Farmer, 107-110-217

SOUTH COUNTY SECONDARY SCHOOL (338-345-683): Steve Slocum, 81-73-154; Josh Carey, 79-93-172; Nolan White, 90-86-176; Jake Saba, 88-93-181; Chris Barton, 96-102-198

POWHATAN HIGH SCHOOL (346-344-690): Tyler Kee, 76-83-159; Matt Johnston, 82-79-161; Jake Mathews, 93-87-180; Megan McCracken, 99-106-205; Sam Scherzer, 95-95-190

MATOACA HIGH SCHOOL (343-366-709): Tyler Hancock, 82-83-165; Tyler Broach, 84-94-178; Will Brown, 92; Jason Wells, 97; Matt Pulley, 101

DOUGLAS S. FREEMAN HIGH SCHOOL (353-370-723): Matt Harmon, 82-85-167; Andrew Robson, 94-87-181; Davis Boyd, 87-101-188; Conner Hill, 92-97-189; Kyle Evans, 92-109-201

INDIVIDUALS COMPETING IN THE INDEPENDENCE GOLF CLUB HIGH SCHOOL INVITATIONAL
Michael Moyers (William Monroe High School), 72-70-142 (boys' medalist)
Rick O'Connell (Goochland High School), 70-76-146