Their time without a state championship was short-lived for the Langley Saxons.
Motivated by last season’s disappointing third-place finish in the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 6 state golf tournament, Langley returned to the throne by winning this year’s crown with a 303 team score. The defending champion Robinson Rams finished second this year with a 308 total.
The 2024 state title was the Saxons’ eighth in nine years and 12th in program history, a VHSL record at the highest enrollment classification. Langley’s winning state score of 303 was the same as a year ago, when the Saxons finished third at the Heritage Oaks Golf Course in Harrisonburg.
The 2024 competition was held on a chilly and windy day on the par-72 Norman course at the Lansdowne Resort in Loudoun County.
“After not winning last year, we really wanted to come back and win again,” said Langley senior Sarah Wang, who shot 75 to finish sixth individually. “We were a little nervous today, but we handled things step by step.”
Langley sophomore Sophie Cao had the Saxons’ lowest score with a 1-under 71 to finish third.
“I wanted to have more birdies, but I didn’t putt well,” Cao said. “I just got back from playing in Louisiana where it was 90 degrees, and I couldn’t get 100 percent comfortable today in these different conditions.”
Langley senior Jacob Stansbury carded 78 to tie for 11th, senior Shakthi Pattabiranan shot 79, senior Andrew Hwang 82 and senior Harrison Smith 88.
Stansbury played even par over the final four holes, with one birdie during that stretch.
“I wanted to finish strong to help secure the win,” Stansbury said. “I was pretty consistent today.”
Langley entered the state tournament having won the 6D North Region tourney and finishing second in the Liberty District championship in preceding weeks. First-year Langley coach Duane Beane said last year’s state finish and not winning the district earlier this fall helped inspire the team.
“Our players heard the whispers that Langley might now be as strong as before, and that motivated us,” Beane said. “Sophie was lights-out today, and our seniors really stepped up and proved they should be here. Our goal all season was to be competitive in all three tournaments.”
Leading Robinson was individual runner-up Raquel Walker. She shot 70 and lost on the second hole of a playoff for first to Edison’s Owen Love. Also for Robinson, Sydney Dinh shot 74, Kadyn Burgy 82, Erin Mullin 82, Armaan Osterman 87 and Jake Rafii 102.
The C.G. Woodson Cavaliers finished seventh (326), led by a 76 from Han Lee and an 80 from Aurora Yoo.
Madison High sophomore Ryan Moseley shot 83. Chantilly High players Patrick O’Rourke and Connor McCarthy shot 80 and 82, respectively, West Springfield’s Haleem El-Yacoubi shot 79 to tie for 14th and Thomas Jefferson’s Marina Lin had an 81.
