Oakton Golf Hopes to Putt a Path to Success

Quick Facts:

• Coach: Chris Craddock
• 2010 Record: 3-1-1
• Returning players: 10
• Seniors: Jackson Lizardo, Mike Filliponi, Zach Millard, Christian Hansen, Gregory Shallcross, Willy Krieger

With a solid performance at their first tournament of the 2011 season Monday, the Oakton High golf team showed potential for a good year.

Though they fell short of winning, the Cougars had one golfer, Ho Jae Lee, place third at Monday's Cougar Classic. The next day, Lee placed second at the Charger Challenge, which helped carry the team to second place — by two strokes — for the day.

Chris Craddock, the new head coach for the Cougars, said Lee is showing great promise to be one of the best golfers in the state. As a whole, the team needs to work on their short game heading into district play, and Lee is no exception.

"Just a couple of those things get corrected and Ho Jae will be competing for the state title, he's just a junior," he said. "We all know you win tournaments with good putting."

Craddock is also expecting big things out of senior Jackson Lizardo, who had a standout season last fall competing as far as the Northern Region Championship along with teammate Rahil Gujral.

"He's starting out slow this year, but I'm told that's how he works. I'm told he started out slow last year and became the team's MVP, so I'm expecting a good show from him this year," Craddock said.

As for the rest of the team, Craddock is happy with the way they're improving, and credits his large coaching staff. Most golf teams have one or two coaches, the Cougars have four: Dan Hamblen, a former Lynchburg College golfer; Darlene Roach, a PGA-certified assistant professional at International Country Club; and Mike Miller, a former high school golfer.

Craddock said the large staff helps give each golfer more individual attention because the coaches can split the kids up into groups depending on what each player needs.

But it's not all up to the coaches.

"The thing about golf is it's so individual," he said. "Each kid has to have their own drive to do well."

Though much of golf is played individually, Craddock wants to emphasize the importance of working as a team to his players.

"It's something we talk about at practice. We know we're all in it together," he said. "As a team, part of our job is to encourage each other to keep working on the things that matter, keep our focus and concentration. And each one of us has to contribute what we can to bring together our great team score."

The Cougars compete next in the Virginia State Golf Association Foundation Invitational on Aug. 22-24.

Oakton results so far this season:

Cougar Classic

• Ho Jae Lee, 73 - Third Place Lowest
• Jackson Lizardo, 80
• John McGuinness, 81
• Rahil Gujral, 83
• Carter Lawhorn, 85
• Team: Fourth place, 317

Charger Challenge

• Ho Jae Lee, 80 — Second Lowest
• Jackson Lizardo, 81
• John McGuinness, 81
• Rahil Gujral, 82
• Carter Lawhorn, 97
• Team: Second place, 324

SC Stallion Invitational

• Ho Jae Lee, 74
• John McGuinness, 80
• Zach Millard, 84
• Jackson Lizardo, 82
• Rahil Gujral, 105
• Team: 320