Gazette Previews Upcoming Season

Landon golf poised for big year by Nick Cammarota Staff writer
It’s a new season, but the same high level of competition will exist between Bethesda’s private school golf teams.
Entering the 2013 golf schedule, the Landon School and Georgetown Prep again figure to be two of the stronger private school golf teams in the state of Maryland.
Landon, which won the Interstate Athletic Conference last season and was runner-up in the Metropolitan Area tournament, returns one of the top players in the state in junior Brent Bubes. Bubes shared a Metros title with Gonzaga’s Keegan Boone last season as a sophomore and could be poised for even bigger things as he continues to fine tune his game.
“I just think the kids, especially my top four, are putting down some really good scores now,” Landon coach Jack Duquette said. “I think their consistency is the big thing. I don’t see any flare-ups in the rounds right now.”
Bubes will be joined by sophomore Mike Blasey, junior Walter Spak and sophomore Morgan Egloff in the aforementioned top four grouping. Duquette said he’s still figuring out who will fill his No. 5 and No. 6 spots. The team’s IAC title last season was its first since 2006 and 17th overall.
“I think the kids are really working hard, and we’re looking forward to it,” Duquette said. “I know there will be some very tough matches. I think we have one of the most competitive schedules in the area, and I try to get a really good schedule to test our kids.”
One such test will come against rival Georgetown Prep, which the Bears are scheduled to face April 22, the day before the IAC Championships at Woodmont Country Club. The Little Hoyas will once again be led by legendary coach Robert Barry, who is embarking on his 30th season at the helm.
“In 30 years of adding up nine hole scores, you think you would have seen it all, but you’d be surprised,” Barry said with a laugh.
Returning as his No. 1 player this season will be Jon Carr, who finished seventh in the state last year. Barry said Carr is starting to really drive the ball well. Right behind Carr is Brendan Peel, the team’s No. 1 player last year. While observing the two juniors during the summer, Barry decided Carr was the right man for the top spot this season.
“Right now, as we go into the season, those are the two guys I’m relying on,” he said. “Brendan gets an awful lot out of a smaller body. He plays incredibly steady, while Jon has really grown into his frame. He’s about 6-foot-4 now.”
Junior Carter Connelly is slotted at No. 3, while Andrew Lundquist is fourth, and Joe Reyes, who Barry called the Rickie Fowler of the team, is fifth.
“We need five guys who are consistent,” Barry said. “There are too many good teams we’re going to be up against. With a team that’s mostly juniors, I hope because they’ve played now, I hope they recognize how important it is to be consistent through the whole round.”
The season began Monday and will conclude May 25 with the Metros championships.