After a successful 2025 season, Handley golf will have some holes to fill in its lineup this fall. 

The Judges are coming off a fourth-place finish at the Region 4D Tournament and a second-place finish at the Region 4D North Sub-Region Tournament. However, they’ll have to move forward without Region 4D Tournament qualifier Finn Slaughter, who graduated alongside fellow Handley seniors Cooper Phillips and Will Brubaker. 

Junior Hudson Slaughter is back and will take his brother’s spot as the team’s No. 1 player. Hudson also reached the Region 4D Tournament, shooting an 80, which was a stroke lower than his brother’s score of 79. 

Handley lost its season-opening match against Freedom (South Riding) and placed 23rd at Wednesday’s 40-team Curly Licklider Invitational.  

Millbrook came the closest to unseating Handley last season, finishing third at the sub-region tournament with a score of 327. The Judges shot a 319. 

The Pioneers return 2025 Winchester Star Golfer of the Year Tyler Learn, a senior who posted a stroke average of 78 last season. However, it was fellow senior Trenton Conley who had the stronger postseason, winning the sub-region tournament with an even-par 72 before shooting a 79 at the region tournament.  

The Pioneers have opened their season with an eighth-place finish in Tuesday’s 10-team Blue Streak Invitational and placed 29th at the Licklider. Conley was on vacation during both events. 

Sherando made some noise at both of those events, placing fourth at the Blue Streak Invitational and leading all local teams with an 18th-place finish at the Licklider. The Warriors return junior Daniel Hill, who reached the Region 4D Tournament last year after posting a stroke average of 81 throughout the season. 

James Wood will look to improve upon its seventh-place finish at the sub-region tournament under first-year head coach Vitoria Whitehurst.

Whitehurst replaces David Oates, who led the Colonels to five region tournament appearances during his 13 years at the helm. After competing for Shenandoah University’s golf team from 2021-2025, Whitehurst served as an assistant coach for Millbrook last fall. 

The Colonels placed 30th at the Licklider last week. 

Finally, Clarke County will look to build upon its second-place finish in the Bull Run District Tournament and fourth-place finish in the Region 2B Tournament. 

The Eagles lost senior Jonah Ziercher, who tied for first at the Bull Run Tournament by shooting a 78. However, senior Grace Trent made a statement by shooting an area-best 77 at the Licklider last week, helping her team finish 26th. She’ll look to improve on her 2025 stroke average of 85 this fall. 

The four Winchester/Frederick County schools are next in action at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the seven-team  NWD/Bull Run Golf Challenge at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club.

Here’s a closer look at each team’s roster and expectations for 2026. 

Handley

Coach: Troy Mezzatesta, 10th season.

Last year: Second in Region 4D North sub-region; fourth in Region 4D.

Key losses: Finn Slaughter, Cooper Phillips, Will Brubaker, Sofia Bogaty.

Key returners: Hudson Slaughter, Jr.; Jack Pearce-Gonzales, Jr.; Aaron DeChristopher, Jr.; Jaxon Pardue, Sr.; Max Boula, So.; Sohil Patel, Sr.; Mariska Sharma, Jr.

Key newcomers: Jace Lane, Jr.; Charlie Warren, Jr.; Deven Patel, So.; Charles Hessburg, Fr.; Nina Bogaty, So.; Myra Koshta, Fr.; Liam Wagner, Jr.; Brayden Lill, Jr. 

Mezzatesta’s outlook: “We just want to get better each week and be sure we are in the [mix] at the end of the golf season. We have some experience, but we’ll need to get better at managing ourselves in the moment each week to meet the potential we possess. We have the team to compete at the postseason level. We just need to get comfortable in those moments and gain consistency in all facets of the game.

“Hudson Slaughter continues to work hard and has gained confidence with his experience and hard work. Jack Pearce-Gonzales continues to grow, and his experience and hard work will suit him well. Aaron DeChristopher got a lot of good experience at regions last season, so he will use that to continue to grow. Our two seniors, Jaxon Pardue and Sohil Patel, have worked hard over the past four years and will use that experience to help lead the team. Mariska Sharma brings back her solid work ethic and will serve the team with her solid skill set.”

Millbrook

Coach: Tim Deegan, fourth season

Last year: Third in Region 4D North sub-region.

Key loss: Anthony Gelormine.

Key returners: Tyler Learn, Sr.; Trenton Conley, Sr.; Jude McGee, Sr.; Dylan Reich, Jr.; Nate Stubblefield, Jr. 

Key newcomers: Trevor Conley, Fr.; Preston Hammer, Fr.; Josh Lapp, Fr.

Deegan’s outlook: “With our roster’s depth and experience, our expectation is to play disciplined, high-level golf to contend for a postseason run. Our district is loaded with quality programs, but we feel great about how we stack up.”

Sherando

Coach: Jonah Pearson, third season.

Last year: Fourth in Region 4D North sub-region.

Key losses: Peyton Sullivan, Sam Brooks.

Key returners: Daniel Hill, Jr.; Cole Prather, Jr.; Nick Sneddon, Jr.; Ty Chunta, So.

Key newcomers: Gavin Welsh, Jr; Garrison Walker, So. 

Pearson’s outlook: “We have a strong core of juniors and seniors this year who have really progressed over the last few years. If we play our best golf we can compete with anyone and I am excited to see what this group can accomplish.

“Several of our guys have really worked hard and made a big jump from last season to this season, especially Cole Prather, Ty Chunta and Mason Ables. These three are going to be extremely important to lowering our team score and giving us a chance to win matches. But the best part of this team is how much fun they have with each other; it’s a great group of kids, and I’m thankful to be a part of it.” 

James Wood

Coach: Vitoria Whitehurst, first season

Last year: Seventh in Region 4D North sub-region. 

Key losses: Connor Causby, Aubrey Nail. 

Key returners: Drew Longo, Sr.; Paige Littman, Sr.; Peyton Blair, Sr.; Emeric Ponceroff, Sr.; Abram Nail, So. 

Key newcomers: Tucker Campbell, Jr.; Liam Mayes, Fr.

Whitehurst’s outlook: “My overall expectation is that we continue to build a competitive program while creating an environment where our players enjoy being part of the team and want to continue improving. Since this is my first season as head coach, I’m not going to put unnecessary pressure on the team by making predictions. We know our district and region have some very talented golf programs, and we’re going to focus on controlling what we can control — showing up, working hard, supporting one another and getting better every day. I’m excited to see where that takes us.”

Clarke County

Coach: Tom McFillen, second season.

Last year: Second in Bull Run District Tournament; fourth in Region 2B.

Key losses: Jonah Ziercher, Caleb Erickson, Dylan Hoggatt, John Mercer.

Key returners: Grace Trent, Sr.; Carter Frame, Sr.; Cambrie Ferre, Jr.; Cord Hornbaker, Jr.

Key newcomers: Zac Shinabery, Sr.; Isaac Nei, Sr.; Dane Burgess, Fr. 

McFillen’s outlook: “Clarke golf needs balanced scoring to be competitive this season. Our developing players are showing great improvement. Unlike recent years, the 2026 squad will have to rely on a rotating lineup, providing more players exposure to build confidence in their ability. We have an opportunity to be relevant in district play. Our wins will come from the lower lineup, playing with confidence and limiting mistakes.”