In his first two high-school seasons, Finn Watson has enjoyed big success with strong runner-up finishes in the 6D North Region golf tournament.
This fall the Washington-Liberty High School sophomore tied for first at the end of two days and 36 holes of regulation play, then made a bogey and lost on the first hole of a two-person playoff to Langley’s Catherine Qiu, who made a par.
Watson shot a 76-71–147 on the par-71 Bristow Manor Golf Club in Bristow. His 1-under 71 was the lowest round of the competition.
Watson made birdies on two of his final five holes in the second round to earn tie with Qiu (72-75–147).
“I played well and hit the ball well over the last five holes,” Watson said.
Watson’s final round included three birdies and two bogeys.
On the playoff hole, Watson missed the fairway with his drive and wasn’t able to save par. Qiu made par by making a half-foot putt.
“Today I hit the ball well all day, better than what I did in the first round,” Watson said.
He had just one birdie in the first round.
By finishing second, Watson earned a berth to play in the Virginia High School League’s (VHSL) 18-hole Class 6 state tournament on Oct. 10 in Harrisonburg. He also played in last season’s state event after his second in the region, with a 72-71–143 total on a different course and finishing one shot out off the lead.
Watson then shot 82 in last season’s state tournament.
NOTES: According to the VHSL record book, no golfer from Washington-Liberty has ever won the state tournament. The only golfer from an Arlington public high school to win a state title was Benjamin Newfield, as a Yorktown freshman in 2019. Newfield is now a freshman player on the Davidson College men’s golf team, carding a 71 in a recent tournament . . . Watson will be the only player from an Arlington school participating in this year’s Class 6 state tourney.
