River Hill senior Helen Yeung capped an impressive high school golf career with 36 holes for the record books this week at the University of Maryland.
She started the Maryland 4A/3A state tournament Monday with a 6-under-par 65 — a girls’ tournament record. She followed that up Wednesday with a sizzling 67, a round that included a stretch of four birdies in five holes on the back nine. Her 10-under 132 total not only set a girls’ tournament record, it gave the North Carolina commit a third straight state title.
Perhaps most importantly, at least to Yeung, is that it led her school to a second straight team title. River Hill’s total of 572 tied a state record and was a staggering 41 shots clear of runner-up Marriotts Ridge. Urbana (633) finished third, followed by Churchill (636), Whitman (646) and Richard Montgomery (649).
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“She’s all about the team,” Hawks Coach Matthew Graves said. “She enjoys this more than any individual accolades. I knew the potential this team had. It might be the only time I get to see it at River Hill. You enjoy it. You cherish it.”
Churchill’s Zoe Cusack finished second at 138, and Northwest’s Julia Hua (143) was third on the girls’ leader board. Yeung’s sister Michelle, a freshman at River Hill, was fourth at 144.
The boys’ 4A/3A tournament had all the drama, with River Hill’s Benjamin Siriboury making a back-nine push with four birdies to force a playoff with Crofton’s Owen Newberry, whose 69 on Wednesday was the day’s low score among the boys. They tied in regulation with a score of 142. Newberry made a par on the first playoff hole to capture his first state title. Siriboury was going for his third consecutive championship. Marriotts Ridge’s George Williamson (147) finished third.
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Newberry entered Wednesday five strokes off the lead. He steadily climbed, making four birdies over his first eight holes to grab the lead, which he held until Siriboury’s late run. But an off-target approach from Siriboury on the playoff hole sealed the title for Newberry.
“I know he wanted to get that three wins in a row, but I really wanted to win one,” Newberry said.
Yeung led by four shots after Monday, and her lead only continued to grow Wednesday.
“Being a two-time state champion, there could be some pressure,” Yeung said. “I just kept my head up and focused on the present. I really wanted to finish strong, so winning for my third time was a good feeling.”
River Hill returned three of its top four scorers from last season. With Yeung and Siriboury leading the way, it won the title by 28 strokes in 2022. The Hawks went a few better this week.
“They have a little more comfort in that setting,” Graves said. “They’re used to that environment. They’re used to that fun, joyous type of crowd.”
South Carroll (633) won the 2A/1A tournament with Poolesville (658) finishing runner-up. Fallston (661) was third followed by Glenelg (667). Poolesville’s Olivia Cong (137, including a 66 Wednesday) won the girls’ individual title.
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