As a competitor who had not made the match play rounds in Junior Match Play Championship participation previously, Fredericksburg’s Grayson Wood became the 31st VSGA Junior Match Play champion at Willow Oaks Country Club Friday.
Wood defeated 10th seed Logan Reilly 6 and 5 in the semifinal match before handing a 2-and-1 loss to fifth seed Jake Albert in the final match.
Willow Oaks played in Wood’s favor Friday; he had made par on all but one hole in semifinal and final match play against Logan and Albert. In the semifinals and finals, Wood quickly jumped to a 2-up lead against both opponents through two holes, allowing motivation and confidence to take the lead.
“I know I left some shots out there, but, knowing that once I made the semifinals, I just knew I just had the chance to win,” Wood said. “I just kind of stuck to the same mindset all the time—I wasn’t thinking about what anyone else was doing…Holes one and two made the matches so much easier.
“Once I had a good start in both of the rounds, it really just drove me to having a chance of winning.”
Ryan Wheeler tees off from 8
Jake Albert tees off from 8
Logan Reilly on 8's green
Wood sets himself up for eagle on 8
Grayson Wood tees off from 9
Logan Reilly tees of from 9
Logan Reilly on 8's green
Grayson Wood on 13's fairway
Grayson Wood watches his putt on 13
Wood's caddy, Jake, shakes hands with Reilly
Wood advanced, 6 and 5
Jake Albert on 16's fairway
Ryan Wheeler on 16's green
Ryan Wheeler on No. 16's green
