Watching Raiders Wrap up a Dulles District Golf Title is Best Medicine for Laycock

By Dan Sousa
VivaLoudoun.com Editor

Leesburg (Sept. 4, 2009) - Loudoun County High School golf coach John Laycock -- recovering from his second heart attack in a three-month span -- isn't cleared by his doctor to go back to work yet but that didn't stop the veteran coach from watching his Raiders wrap up their first ever AA Dulles District regular season title Thursday at Raspberry Falls.

"Between my doctor and my wife, they keep good clamps on me but it was a thrill to be out here today and see the players and parents," said Laycock after Loudoun County (4-0 in district) defeated two-time defending district regular-season champion Briar Woods (4-1), 150-158 in a nine-hole match on a beautiful evening.

The Dulles District regular season champion is determined by the two mini tournaments in August -- both won by Loudoun County -- and by the dual meet season with each of the three weighted equally. Freedom (3-1) finished runner-up to the Raiders in both events and needed to finish at least two spots ahead of the Raiders in the dual meet standings, which now appears almost impossible.

"This win today puts us back in regionals and that's a good feeling," said Laycock.

Loudoun County came on strong last season, capturing both the Dulles District tournament and Region II tournament titles. The Raiders, however, have never won a Dulles District regular-season title and by claiming the 2009 crown, LC becomes the fifth different school to win the title since 2004.

Andrew Brenneman, with three birdies on his scorecard, led the Raiders with a 35 followed by Brantley Kushner (38), Kevin Cook (38) and Sam Early (39). Brenneman had been struggling with the putter but he got them to drop on Thursday.

"I have been hitting the ball well and I finally made some putts today," said Brenneman.

Laycock hadn't been to a full Raider match since suffering a heart attack on Aug. 18, but he surprised the team by showing up to the very end of last week's victory over Park View.

"We were kind of shocked to see him," said Brenneman. "It is good to have Coach Laycock out here again. We have been missing him."

Former Loudoun County golf coach John Brown has been standing in for Laycock and was at the match Thursday, urging Laycock to hurry home and rest up. Laycock suffered his first heart attack in mid-May while awaiting a kidney and pancreas transplant in Cleveland. The bad news was that he didn't get the needed transplants but the good news is that he had the heart attack in one of the top hospitals for heart surgery in the nation.

Laycock is hoping to get the O.K. to get back to work when he visits the doctor on Sept. 22, that is just one day prior to the Dulles District tournament. Despite wrapping up the district title Thursday, Laycock wants his team to stay sharp as in four of the past seasons, the regular season champion has not gone on to win the district tournament.

"We really need to keep our edge," said Laycock.

The Raiders have a key match against Freedom on Sept. 10 and then a nice non-district tri-meet on Sept. 15 with AAA powerhouse Loudoun Valley and AA foe Briar Woods. The Falcons -- with two regular season and two district tournament titles in the past three seasons -- are looking for a little revenge on the Raiders.

"On any given day we can catch them," said Briar Woods coach Bob Vitti. "We had our chances today but had just a few errant shots."

Adam Ochs led Briar Woods with a 36 followed by Jon Howard (39), Nathan Burcak (41) and Nick Vazzana (42).

Past Dulles District Champions
Regular Season - District Tournament
2009: Loudoun County - ???
2008: Briar Woods - Loudoun County
2007: Briar Woods - Briar Woods
2006: Potomac Falls - Briar Woods
2005: Heritage - Loudoun County
2004 - Loudoun Valley - Heritage
2003 - Loudoun Valley - Loudoun Valley
2002 - Potomac Falls - Potomac Falls
2001 - Potomac Falls - Potomac Falls