COLLEGE PARK — Playing with the best female golfers in the state didn’t seem to faze Urbana sophomore Claire Son.
In fact, she said it was “really fun” to do so both days of the MPSSAA state championships, which concluded Wednesday at the University of Maryland Golf Course.
Son, who was one of the youngest golfers in the field, showed she belonged in that top group, as she tied for fourth among Class 4A/3A girls with a 7-over 149 across two days. She was the highest-finishing Frederick County golfer across all divisions and dropped 15 strokes from her total at the 2023 state championship.
“My tee shots were much more straight. My approach shots were better. My short game and my putting definitely improved,” Son said.
Some of that was natural growth from her freshman to sophomore season, but much of it came down to familiarity with the course and the pressure of the state tourney.
Son said she felt more nervous and scared last year, which meant she finished with a middling score of 164.
But she felt more comfortable playing in the leading group on Monday and Wednesday, which included individual girls champion Zoe Cusack (five-under 137), of Churchill, and runner-up Michelle Yeung, of River Hill, both days.
Photos: Maryland State Golf Championships
The trio, which added Marriotts Ridge’s Lila Becker on Wednesday, helped raise each other’s level of play. As a result, Son shot several strokes better than she thought she would.
“I kind of knew what to expect,” Son said. “I wasn’t too worried.”
Son got out to a quick start, birdieing her first two holes. She leveled off but still finished with a strong 74.
Her golf adventures continue this weekend at a tournament in Williamsburg, Virginia, and Son said she’s hoping to make Urbana’s indoor track and field team this winter for additional offseason training.
It could help her return to that top group the next two years.
“It’s better because it’s more of a challenge,” Son said. “Having that challenge can be helpful in the future because I’m under pressure.”
Middletown senior Dylan Leadbetter, Oakdale junior Zac Taylor and Linganore junior Schaffer Wisnom all shot a 155 over the two days. Leadbetter’s score was good enough to finish ninth among Class 2A/1A boys.
Urbana senior Aiden Garwood recorded a 159, and Walkersville senior Dave Nuckolls notched a 160.
Walkersville sophomore Celine Lieu finished seventh among all 2A/1A girls with a score of 164.
George Williamson, of Marriotts Ridge, won the 4A/3A boys title with a 1-under 141. C. Milton Wright’s Jack Geyer also carded a 1-under 141 to claim the 2A/1A boys championship. Boonsboro’s Piper Meredith shot a 150 to win the 2A/1A girls title.
Churchill (598) and South Carroll (633) won the 4A/3A and 2A/1A team championships, respectively.
No Frederick County teams qualified for the state final. Middletown, Oakdale and Urbana were cut after the semifinals earlier in the week.
