Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 28, 1993 TAG: 9310290183
SECTION: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PEARISBURG LENGTH: Medium
Most of the Glenvar guys had big-match experience, having played on the 1992 Group A runner-up team. Some were holdovers from the Highlanders' state championship squad of 1991.
Wagner knew Nick Varney was the individual runner-up in Group A last fall as a sophomore. He knew about Tom Lesperance, Ray Harrell, Chadd Yeatts, Rob Robinson and Ryan Antolini - all very good players.
Wagner, a sophomore at Giles, had played against most of those guys on the state junior circuit for the past couple of summers. Nice guys all, but he never got the chance to get chummy with any of them.
"If I get too friendly with competitors, I start goofing around with them and not concentrating on my game," Wagner said.
And if ever there was a time he would have to concentrate, it was against the Glenvar boys. He knew the tradition of Glenvar golf. He knew the Highlanders would be tough to beat on their home course at Countryside, the site of the Region C tournament.
"I thought Varney or somebody else from Glenvar would run over me," Wagner said.
But they play pretty good golf at Giles, too. The Spartans cruised to the Mountain Empire District championship with Wagner leading the way. He shot an 83 on the Wolf Creek course at Bastian to earn medalist honors.
A week later in the Region C tournament, Wagner found himself in a foursome that included Varney. Wagner shot a 41 on the front nine. A decent score, but not a championship number.
He didn't bother to keep a running total on the back nine.
When the match was over, Wagner totaled his scorecard. "It added up to 75," he said. "I was surprised."
It is not known whether Wagner doubted his math skills, or whether he gave his wire-framed spectacles a good wiping after looking at his total.
His addition was correct. He blistered the back nine with a 34 and passed the Glenvar boys to win the Region C championship.
Bolstered by Wagner's performance, Giles finished second in the region, five strokes behind the Highlanders. David McCall shot a 77, Jerad French had an 85 and Mitch Redd had a 92 to round out the Spartans' scores.
The Spartans didn't fare as well in the state tournament Oct. 18-19 at Lonesome Pine Country Club in Big Stone Gap. Glenvar claimed its second state title in three years, with Giles finishing back in the pack. McCall shot a two-day total of 165 to lead the way. Wagner carded a 167, Reed a 170 and French a 181.
The Spartans will be back, however. Reed is the only senior on a team that features a player hoping to claim Virginia high school golf's triple crown - district, region and state championships.
"That's my goal," Wagner said. "I want to win the state by my senior year."
If he could do that, Wagner probably would go down as one of the top golfers in the Spartans' fine history on the links. Giles has compiled a 391-126 record since Bob Wilburn became coach in 1980. He has taken four teams to state play, and he usually sends an individual or two in years when the team doesn't qualify.
In other words, he's seen some good golfers. Wagner already ranks with some of the Spartans' finest.
"He'll be one of the best, and I've had some good ones," Wilburn said. "I'd hate to try to start naming them all off, but Andrew is one of the good ones."
He should get better, especially since Giles Country Club is practically next door to his Pearisburg home. Playing a practice round only requires the wherewithal to walk down the street.
"I'm the only one in my whole family who golfs," Wagner said. "Living next to the course, I'd see the golfers go by and I thought I might try it."
During the summer, Wagner played in some prestigious junior tournaments around the state, including the Virginia State Golf Association's Juniors Championship in Petersburg.
He hopes to see more of the commonwealth's finer courses next summer.
In short, Wagner will play a lot of golf before the 1994 season, meaning he should continue to get better.
As a result, the Spartans should maintain their winning tradition.
"There have been a lot of good golfers here before," Wagner said.
He should know. He's one of them.
by CNB