By Phil Murphy
Content Editor, DigitalSports.com
** Check out the video player below the Northern Region round-up to see highlights and between-hole interviews with Oakton junior Amanda Steinhagen from a practice round at the International Country Club in Fairfax on Aug. 7.
The high school golfer with the sweetest swing in state of Virginia likely drives the sweetest car, too.
And she’s only had the keys for a month.
“I have a 2007 Mustang Shelby GT,” said Oakton junior Amanda Steinhagen, defending VHSL AAA State golf champion. “It’s white with silver stripes and has a charcoal interior. But I’m not like a ********, over-the-speed-limit driver. My parents will take it away with the first ticket I get.”
Although she can’t go full throttle on the road – parentally prohibited from utilizing the Shelby’s 319 horsepower and power to go 0-60 miles per hour in 5.2 seconds – at 16, Steinhagen has already experienced a lap of luxury on the links that most golfers will never encounter.
This summer she traveled to South Carolina for the United States Golf Association (USGA) sectional qualifier at Spring Valley Country Club on June 23. Steinhagen shot a 73 to finished tied for fourth and earn a berth in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship in West Hartford, Conn. on July 22.
“Going down [to South Carolina] I didn’t think I’d actually qualify,” said Steinhagen, who made the cut for the Girls’ Junior Nationals by a single stroke. “I was a little bit close to the cut line, but happy to go. Then, I went to the USGA, which is a huge deal.
“Going in there, I was a little nervous because it’s all the top girls in the country.”
If she had nerves, she didn’t show them.
Steinhagen shot 77-73 for a two-day total of 150 in stroke play, earning a spot in the 64-player, match-play field. Although she fell in the first round, 1-up, to No. 4-ranked Pearl Jin, Steinhagen recognizes what an accomplish it was to make the cut in Hartford.
“You know, I lost, but you can’t win everything,” said Steinhagen, who captured the 2007 Virginia girls’ golf title by four strokes over teammate Lauren Greenlief. “The girl who beat me will be No. 1 in the country by the time she’s my age.
“I played really well. I’m not displeased. It was a huge honor to play there, and especially play that well and make the top 64. I’m really excited and proud that I made the cut, because not many girls get to do that.”
Her maturity and focus are not lost on Oakton coach Jack Masich.
“She’s a very disciplined golfer,” Masich said. “When she gets into trouble, she doesn’t make more trouble. That comes from a lot of tournament experience.”
With the respect of her coach and all-male corps of Cougar teammates, Steinhagen balances her determination and Tiger-like competitive edge with a sweet, genuine demeanor. Her bag features several personal mementos, including a furry, dog club head cover.
“That’s Freddy, he’s my miniature schnauzer,” she said. “I missed him when I was out of town for the tournaments for three weeks.”
In the brutally tough Concorde District, which features state team runner-up champion Chantilly and third-place Westfield, Oakton will need her leadership and experience to contend.
A little confidence from the star junior couldn’t hurt either.
“There are some girls down in southern Virginia that are really good competition and they play really well,” said Steinhagen, who alongside seniors Scott Miller and Matt Ellis and junior Graham Lawyer will keep the Cougars in the hunt for the Concorde District title. “But I definitely consider myself at least top four – maybe top three – in the entire state.
“Hopefully, states this year for girls will be pretty good to me and varsity states will be good to us, too.”
What to Watch Around the Rest of the Northern Region
Concorde District
Arguably home the top four teams in the Northern Region. Oakton had the state boys’ and girls’ individual champions last year (Danny Kim and Amanda Steinhagen) – Steinhagen won by four strokes over teammate Lauren Greenlief. … Chantilly is among top teams in the state with junior Victor Monte and sophomore Ji Soo Park, who one area coached called, “A star in the making.” Park won Bobby Bowers Tournament this summer to qualify for USGA Junior Nationals in River Bend, Ohio. But the Chargers will need some younger golfers to step up to counter Westfield’s depth. … Last season Chantilly finished second in state (599) and Westfield took third (600). … Westfield is extremely deep, with one coach calling top six, “Solid and virtually interchangeable.” Westfield sophomore Sabril Brewer finished fifth in girls’ state last year as a freshman.
Liberty District
Langley senior Brigitte Baker finished fourth in girls’ state last year and won the Liberty District title. … Stone Bridge senior Russell Moore finished second in Liberty District tournament, three strokes behind Baker. … Madison senior Sophia Montenegro finished tied for ninth at states in 2007 while Langley senior Sindy Lee placed 14th. … Langley finished third in the Northern Region (the highest non-Concorde District team) and is the defending Liberty District champion. … Madison, which finished eight strokes behind Langley in the league championships, placed fourth in last year’s Northern Region tournament.
National District
Edison returns all of their top six golfers, including senior team captain Shay Nimjareansuk. … Edison sophomore April Nimjareansuk finished 25th in state a year ago, the only National District girl to compete in both rounds of the state tournament.
Patriot District
Lake Braddock is the defending district champion and nearly all of last year’s contributing golfers return. … South County and West Potomac finished tied for second. … South County senior Steve Slocum won the individual Patriot District title. He is one of six returning players and for a team that also has a large freshman class. … West Potomac, last year’s dark horse, will be led by senior Forrest Wilson, who played US Junior Amateur in Shoal Creek, Ala. The Wolverines also expect contributions from seniors Arthur Genuario and Danny Peterson. West Potomac lost two of its top six to graduation and one more to a transfer. … Lake Braddock sophomore Kenny Towns took 61st in state as a freshman. … Hayfield may surprise with a cast of young, experienced golfers.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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