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A rising force?

Three strokes. That’s all that separated Monticello High’s golf team from knocking off 2008 state runner-up Western Albemarle in a dual match back in late August.

While the Mustangs lost, that narrow margin made it clear that walking away with the Jefferson District championship may not be a simple task for the Warriors.

Monticello, who earlier this week tied William Monroe, another solid Jefferson squad, has put together an intriguing group of young players while adding a key senior to the mix. It’s a squad that has the potential to challenge for a Jefferson title this season, and certainly has a bright future in the works.

The Mustangs’ depth appears to be the key to their early success. It’s also responsible for their ability to compete with an equally deep Western Albemarle squad – four different players have earned medalist honors for Monticello. Sophomores Evan Childress and Carson Wilmer, senior Tim Brandon and freshman Michael Comer have all posted a top score for Monticello at at least one point this season.

It doesn’t hurt either that there’s a strong sense of belief within the Monticello ranks that they can win, and when mixed with some impressive talent, that can be a recipe for success. But it’s the laid-back atmosphere created by a strong team chemistry that seems to be fueling the Mustangs right now.

“We only had five people returning and I was worried about that,” said Monticello coach Pam Bradley. “But there’s great chemistry. These guys have really meshed well together and really encourage one another.”

Childress has come on particularly strong, while Wilmer has settled into a more comfortable role this season as he improved and became a better course manager. The sophomore tandem’s easy-going attitude is critical to Monticello keeping things loose in what can become a tense, frustrating sport.

“I just try to relax and keep the flow going,” Wilmer said.

Childress has been playing a long time and made some important contributions last year to the Mustangs’ effort, but he’s clearly taken a leap forward this year. He’s given Monticello a consistent, solid presence in the top four.

Brandon is the senior addition who came to Monticello midway through last year when his father, Greg, took the offensive coordinator spot at Virginia after serving as the head coach at Bowling Green. Now Brandon is captaining the Mustangs and at times leading them in scoring. But his top contribution is giving the youth-dominated lineup an experienced anchor in each match.

“It’s been going well so far,” Brandon said of his transition with the new team. “There’s been new players and new courses, but I really love challenges and our team is pretty good.”

There’s also Austin Payne, Austin Graham, Alex Simko, Sean Reddy, Sam Relken and Charles Snipe providing more depth for the Mustangs. But the most pleasant surprise might be Comer, a small but talented freshman.

Comer is an experienced junior golfer whose mother runs the golf academy out at Glenmore County Club. He possesses a sterling up and down game, and in just his first year, he’s led Monticello in scoring in a number of matches, acclimating quickly from his individual schedule of tournaments to the camaraderie and team-oriented atmosphere of playing for a high school squad.

“It’s a different atmosphere realizing that if you come in and it’s like ‘I didn’t play very good,’ but it could be that Carson went out and played great, so it’s fine,” Comer said. “We have more than one chance.”

They’ve got more than one chance at taking down Western too. The Mustangs will face off with the Warriors in both the district mini-match and the district tournament on September 28. That’s two chances for the Mustangs to try and erase those three simple strokes, and they just might. They’ve already made at least one big statement.

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