Oct. 25—COLLEGE PARK — Urbana’s Minh Le is a regular at the University of Maryland Golf Course.
Be it cheering on his sister AnPhi, a member of the Terps’ golf team and state champion with the Hawks in 2021, or playing multiple rounds in the MPSSAA championships over the last three years, Le knows the course’s ups and downs, rights and lefts, sand traps and ponds better than most of his peers.
So, in his third and final go at an individual state title on Wednesday, it’s little surprise Le played yet another strong round to secure his best finish at the tournament. Though he eyed the win, Le left satisfied by tying for fourth with Urbana teammate Rylan Bravin in the Class 3A/4A individual boys competition.
Both carded a 148 and helped the Hawks earn third as a team in 3A/4A with a 633.
“I’m proud of where I am right now,” Le said. “At least I got a medal.”
That’s hardware he’ll get to keep, made possible by turning in his second three-over 74 in as many rounds.
Le’s steadiness is his greatest strength, and Urbana coach Joe Cook knows he can expect round after round from him that ends up close to par. The senior finished with a birdie on the par-5 16th hole and sank a par putt on the 17th green to end his high school career.
“It shows how much I’ve done in high school,” Le said. “In the beginning, I didn’t win much. But I got better and better.”
Yet as a sophomore, his consistent play and demeanor already inspired some of his teammates.
That was particularly true of Bravin, who spent his first two years on the Hawks injured and as the last cut for their 2021 state title team.
“I definitely saw him as the person I wanted to be,” Bravin said. “So now, to just tie with him even, it’s cool to see how much I’ve improved.”
He’s grown in his short game and putting, evidenced by the round he shot Wednesday.
Bravin recovered from two bogeys in his first three holes to shoot a 71, one of three boys to shoot even-par or better on the day. The senior capped his top-five finish and high school career with a tricky birdie putt on the 16th hole.
“I knew it was definitely possible coming in,” Bravin said. “I was just trying to get top-10. Anything past that is great.”
Neither Bravin nor Le are “big rah-rah guys,” as Cook put it, and both praised their teammates for helping Urbana get back on track and edge past Churchill on the final day of the tournament.
The Hawks also received scoring contributions from Christian Plesh (161) and Mason Jenkins (176). Those two, plus Le and Bravin, are seniors, and they now turn the team over to freshman Claire Son, who finished her first season with a 164 in the 3A/4A girls competition.
Those results show Urbana is still a threat outside of Frederick County, and one lesser year like 2022 can be quickly forgotten.
“They put the time in this year that they may not have done the previous year,” Cook said. “Third place is nothing to shake a stick at.”
Elsewhere at states, Oakdale’s Will Scott had a two-day total of 159 in the 3A/4A competition. Tuscarora’s Griffin Cansler shot a 161, as did Thomas Johnson’s Garrett Twentey. His Patriots teammate Carter Smith carded a 164, along with Linganore’s Schaffer Wisnom.
Brunswick’s Blake Whitcomb and Colin Pearre recorded a 167 and a 173, respectively, in the 1A/2A competition. Middletown’s Keller Routzahn had a 174. Catoctin’s Jordan Moore shot a 176. Walkersville’s Celine Lieu carded a 179 in the girls competition.
Crofton’s Owen Newberry defeated River Hill’s Benjamin Siriboury in a one-hole playoff to claim the Class 3A/4A boys title with a 142.
River Hill’s Helen Yeung claimed her third straight Class 3A/4A girls state title, setting a two-day scoring record of 132 and a one-day record of 65 in Monday’s semifinal.
North East’s Noah Wallace also won his third straight Class 1A/2A boys title with a 148, while Poolesville’s Olivia Cong earned her third consecutive 1A/2A girls title with a 137.
River Hill won its second straight Class 3A/4A team championship with a record-tying 572, while South Carroll claimed the 1A/2A crown for the first time with a 633.