Falcons eye third golf title
By Carl Lukat
Briar Woods High School will be the team to beat once again Sept. 24 when eight Loudoun high schools will converge at Lowes Island Club in Potomac Falls for the 2008 Dulles District golf tournament.
The Falcon golf team has set the bar high among athletic programs at Briar Woods, a Brambleton school that opened in 2005. The golf squad became the school's first team to win a district title when they claimed the Dulles crown in 2006, and were also the first Briar Woods program to qualify for the state tournament, a feat they accomplished in 2007.
"As a new school, the accomplishments of the golf team are quite impressive," said Bob Vitti, the fourth-year coach of the Falcons. "We've met a very high standard of performance and built a record that's enviable by more mature programs."
Now the Falcons have their sights set on another impressive task -- attempting to win their third consecutive Dulles District tournament Wednesday.
It will not be easy for Briar Woods. The Falcons did claim their second straight Dulles regular season title this fall, but were challenged in the process.
Loudoun County, the last non-Falcon team to win a Dulles tournament in 2005, paced the field among Group AA schools Aug. 18 at the Cheers Sports Open. Broad Run handed Briar Woods its first loss in a dual match in two seasons Sept. 16, and Freedom has also enjoyed a solid regular season.
Those four schools will be joined by Heritage, Park View, Dominion and host Potomac Falls for the 18-hole event at Lowes Island Club, which features two courses nestled along the Potomac River. The Dulles tournament will be contested on the Island Course. The par-72 course plays at 6,902 yards from the championship tees.
Event of the Week
What: Dulles District golf tournament
When: Sept. 24 at 9 a.m.
Where: Lowes Island Club (Island Course)
Who: Eight Loudoun high schools
Directions: Route 7 to Cascades Parkway North, proceed 1.7 miles. Turn right at light onto Algonkian Parkway. Proceed 1.6 miles before turning left at light onto Lowes Island Blvd. Club is one mile ahead on the left. 20391 Lowes Island Blvd. Potomac Falls, VA 20165
--Jason S. Rufner contributed to this story