One could argue a single mistake cost York’s Connor Rinoski the 3A state golf title.
But Rinoski, the two-time defending Bay Rivers District medalist and reigning Region 3A East champion, doesn’t see it that way.
Rinoski led Loudoun Valley’s Ian Hildebrand by three strokes with three holes to play in the final round of the 3A state golf match Tuesday before hooking his drive on hole No. 16 of Harrisonburg’s Heritage Oaks Golf Club into a creek. The one-stroke penalty led to one of the few bogeys Rinoski carded during the two-day event. Hildebrand then buried a tough eagle putt from close to 15 feet out to draw the two players even at one-over-par 72.
The mistake proved costly as Rinoski went on to lose to Hildebrand in the first sudden-death playoff hole.
“That’s just golf,” said a disappointed, but accepting Rinoski shortly after the playoff hole. “I didn’t lose it, I just got beat. I would have liked to gone out with a bang, but a 72 is a respectable score so I think I played well enough, too. But Ian is a great player and a good buddy of mine. I’m happy for him.”
Rinoski, who fired a one-under-par 69 during Monday’s opening round, led Hildebrand by two strokes entering Tuesday and padded that lead to three before mishitting his drive on No. 16.
On the playoff hole, both players rebounded with nice approach shots after driving into the rough on opposite sides of the fairway. Rinoski sent his to roughly 30 yards off the pin on the right side of the green while Hildebrand stuck his within 15 feet on the left side.
In fear Hildebrand was going to one-putt for birdie, Rinoski sailed his first putt 6 feet past the hole but still close enough for a chance at making par.
Hildebrand gave him that chance by pushing his birdie putt right and tapping in for par, but Rinoski left his par putt just high, sitting on the lip of the cup.
“I got too aggressive with my first putt because I thought Ian was going to sink his,” Rinoski said. “And then from five feet out I hit a perfect putt, right on my line, it just didn’t fall.”
Rinoski quickly found solace in realizing that closing his high-school career as the second-best golfer in the state doesn’t sound all that bad.
“It actually sounds pretty good when you put it that way,” Rinoski said.
Two other Bay Rivers District golfers had strong showings in their first-ever state-tournament appearances.
Lafayette sophomore Evan Johnson, a rising star in the area, struggled with his putter at times during Tuesday’s final round but still managed to shoot a respectable 77, giving him a two-day total of 153 after carding a 76 on Monday.
New Kent’s Travis Frazier fired a two-over 72 on Monday and shot a 79 on Tuesday to finish the tournament four strokes off all-state distinction at 151.
Team Results
Tunstall 601
William Monroe 603
Hidden Valley 623
New Kent 646
Individual Results (Top 6- all-state)
1. Ian Hildebrand, Loudoun Valley, 141 (won playoff)
2. Connor Rinoski, York, 141
3. Lance Keiser, Brentsville, 145
4. Ocean Armstrong, Broadway, 146
5. Jared Shifflett, William Monroe, 147
5. Kristin Hearp, Hidden Valley, 147
5. Rand Gibson, Tunstall, 147
