Maloy leads CCHS golfers to sixth-place finish

Mark O'Connell / Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: August 15, 2007

When Culpeper's golf team traveled to Penn Lair yesterday to compete in the nine-team Spotswood/Harrisonburg Turner Ashby Invitational, they knew their ace would be out of the lineup.

The question they had to answer was how well would they respond to the challenge that awaited them without their leader among them-

The team's clear-cut leader is senior Chad Mozingo, who missed yesterday's action because of his participation in the American Junior Golf Association Tournament in Philadelphia.

When such a void is created, it's the measure of a team's mettle just how they'll respond.

With their sixth-place finish yesterday, the Blue Devils passed the test and earned the praise of their coach, Shirley Gray.

"I'm very pleased with the performance of the team," said Gray. "The kids stepped up in Mozingo's absence and played really well. I'm pleased with the sixth-place finish."

The player who stepped to the forefront was Jake Maloy, one of five seniors on this year's short roster of seven players.
Maloy led the team with round of 85 at the Lakeview Golf Course where par is 71.

"Jake stepped up as today's leader," said Gray. "Last week in his first match he shot an 84 and today he shot an 85 in his second match. He's showing the consistency that we're looking for."

Teammate Thomas Byberg, a junior, was one shot back of Maloy with an 86, while seniors Justin Carlson carded a 90 and Randy Smyth a 97 to round out the team's total. Playing for Culpeper (0-1) but whose scores did not count included Tommy Jocz (107) and Miles Albritton (112).

Byberg played on the B team a year ago, while Carlson is one of the team's veterans.

Smyth came out for golf for the first time this season.

A year ago, the Blue Devils finished fifth at the tournament.

Team-wise, Harrisonburg won the crown with a score of 293, which was 16 strokes better than runner-up Turner Ashby, which finished at 309.

Spotswood (315) came in third followed by Western Albemarle (319), R.E. Lee-Staunton (324), Culpeper (358), Charlottesville (360), Monticello (361) and Louisa (376).

Plaques were awarded to the six-team members of Harrisonburg and medals were awarded to the top five individual golfers.

Stewart Surratt of Harrisonburg was the tournament's top medalist with a 5-under-par round of 66. He shot a 35 on the front nine and a 31 on the back nine.

Teammate Andy Wetzel was the runner-up medalist with a 1-over-par 72.

Kyle Elyard and Luke Nash of Turner Ashby and Tyler Trevillign of Western Albemarle all shot a 75 after 18 holes. A tie-breaker resulted in Elyard receiving the third-place medal, Nash the fourth, and Trevillign the fifth.

Gray knows that playing at Lakeview can be problematic.
"A golfer can get in a lot of trouble on the course," he said.

"The course is in excellent shape. The fairways and greens are in excellent shape but you have to play control and if you're smart you can score well on it."

The Blue Devils return to the links on Monday when they travel to Fauquier Springs Country Club to compete in the Cedar Run District Round Robin Tournament comprised of all eight district teams.

With the district realignment this season, Loudoun Valley and Liberty have joined district members Culpeper, Osbourn, Osbourn Park, Fauquier, Battlefield, and Stonewall Jackson to make up the eight-team district.

Culpeper will be bolstered by the return of Mozingo when the teams tee off Monday at a time to be determined.

Mark O'Connell can be contacted at