By Tim Tassa — Daily Staff Writer

CROZET — The Sherando Warriors played 16 practice holes on Sunday at Old Trail Golf Club, preceded by a round of 18 last week as groundwork for Monday's Group AA, Region II tournament.

Their extracurricular effort was to gain comfort and familiarity with the course, invoking extra shots — drops, mulligans, multiple drives and putts — to prepare for the rigors of postseason golf and compare with the region's sound competition.

The goal of the practice round? "I think more of a confidence builder," Sherando head coach Rob Wright said.

The golf fundamental absent was score-keeping. For senior Casey Thompson, however, that may be the easiest part: Counting to 67, as he did on Monday for a second-place, 5-under par 67 score, doesn't take much preparation.

"After shooting 67, you've got to feel good. It was fun; I hit the ball pretty good today and finally made a few birdie putts go in the hole. It was good, [the course] was in really good shape," said Thompson, who chastised his putting after the Northwestern District tournament last week.

"The course was awesome — couldn't have a better day."

Thompson shot the lowest back-nine score of the day, a 32, to pair with a 35 on the front. He credited the course's nicely manicured fairways that allowed the ball to perch on the Zoysia grass like it was on a tee.

"The greens were perfect almost," added Thompson, who said playing the course a second time on Sunday allowed him to "break it down further."

Despite losing by a single stroke to last year's state champion Mikey Moyers of William Monroe, Thompson defeated a highly competitive threesome during the day's first pairing. Mike Birmingham of Briar Woods and Patrick Leisure finished with a 68 and 70 against Thompson, creating a pleasurable viewing spectacle, according to Wright.

Thompson, who finished third in last year's regional tournament, pared the first seven holes of his round, and added birdies on the eighth, 11th, 14th, 15th and 17th holes. He will get another crack at the golf course during next Monday's Group AA state tournament.

"He's been doing that all year," Wright said. "It seems like the tougher the competition the better he plays."

"A lot of fun to be in that environment, everybody's playing well, " Birmingham said.

"Casey's a solid player, everything was working for him today. He putted well, drove the ball, his whole swing just looked great. He's probably going to be tough in states — be a big factor."

Wright's squad finished in fourth place with a team score of 317, trailing Loudoun County (292), Western Albemarle (294) and Briar Woods (298). Monticello placed fifth with 324 strokes, followed by Brentsville in sixth with 325.

For the Warriors, Alex Smart shot a 44 on the front and 36 on the back for an 80, Hunter Strosnider finished with an 84 and John Judy recovered from a 48 on the front to shoot 86 overall.

"This is a whole different pressure than district and all that kind of stuff — today was. You could tell the kids were a little uptight. We had a good practice yesterday," said Wright, who added that every day of golf breeds a different result.

"I'm pleased with the way they rebounded on the backside, they came back a lot better."

Individually, Birmingham finished third, followed by fourth-place Tyler Blake of Freedom and Brantley Kushner of Loudoun County.

Local individuals included Skyline's Ryan Rettberg, who shot a 36 on the front and 38 on the back for a 74, and Zach Henry added a 77 for the Hawks.

Millbrook's Chris Northrup and Hunter Shrout finished with a 90 and 89, respectively, James Wood's Dylen McKee finished with an 81 and Handley's Aubrey Wilkerson shot an 87.

"I made some good shots; there were some bad shots out there, too. Overall I was happy with it," said Rettberg, who finished in second at the Northwestern District tournament.

"Everything was there for you to score. You could throw it at the pin, leave it close. The greens were just awesome, they were fast and true. You could make all kinds of putts."

* Contact Tim Tassa at ttassa@nvdaily.com