Having not played well on the same course two weeks earlier, Finn Watson said he had “no expectations” when returning to the Bristow Manor Golf Club to play in the Class 6 state tournament.

He proceeded to make the most of the second chance.

Scoring 2-under-par 70 despite windy conditions, the Washington-Liberty senior won the Virginia High School League state championship on the Manassas-area course.

Watson won by one stroke over Sam Han of Independence High and two in front of 2024 runner-up Raquel Walker of Robinson and Mason Shapiro of Independence, who each shot 72, in the 18-hole Oct. 15 event. Two-time defending champion Owen Love of Edison shot 76 to tie for 14th.

In the preceding 36-hole 6D North Region tourney at Bristow Manor in calmer conditions, Watson had shot a first-round 80, followed by a second-round 74.

His strategy in the state tournament was to play more conservatively off the tee. He teed off with a four iron, which he can hit some 220 yards, for the majority of the holes. He hit the fairway with each of his four-iron tee shots.

“I really had no expectations for the state tournament because I played so poorly on this course in the region,” Watson said. “I hit the ball better today. Give a shoutout to my four iron. It’s a dream to win this in my last high-school event. I loved playing for this Generals’ team for four years. I’m sad it’s ending.”

Watson’s round of 37-33-70 included four birdies and two bogeys. He shot a bogey-free 3-under on the back nine, including birdies on the 10th, 15th and 16th holes. He made par on the 17th, then sank a clutch 12-foot par putt to clinch the win on the 18th hole.

Finn Watson hits his birdie putt on the 18th hole at the state tournament (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Watson finished his round early in the afternoon. Then he had to wait some three hours to learn if his 2-under score held up.

“Finn had a great playing career with us and did a lot of big things. He really came through today and played one of his best rounds,” Washington-Liberty coach Mike Wilkis told ARLnow.

Watson, who will play college golf at James Madison University, is the first state golf champion from an Arlington public school since Yorktown High’s Ben Newfield won the title his freshman year in 2019. Bishop O’Connell’s Logan Reilly won private-school state titles in recent years.

The state tournament was the fourth Watson played in during his high-school career. He improved his place each year, tying for eighth last fall. He tied for 32nd as a sophomore and tied for 43rd as a freshman.

In this fall’s state team standings, Watson helped W-L finish fifth for the second straight year, with a 316 total. Independence, from Ashburn, won with a 294 score and Robinson was second at 300.

Also for the Generals in the state, junior and 2025 Liberty District champion Emmett Spence shot 76 to tie for 14th, junior Colin Hanley had an 82, junior Dominic Tamburro 88, junior Tyler Hong 91 and senior Bennett Schadrack 96.

“I didn’t play like I wanted and couldn’t convert enough putts,” Spence said. “I left a lot of shots out there.”

Washington-Liberty entered the state showdown after winning the Liberty District and 6D North Region tournaments in previous weeks this fall.

“The team played well all season,” Wilkis said. “The competition at the state and the conditions were tough. We’ve had some big accomplishments the last two seasons.”

Last year, in its inaugural appearance in the state tourney, Washington-Liberty had a 324 team total. That came after winning the district title and finishing second in a playoff in the region. This year, W-L won region and district team crowns. The Generals also won the Arlington County tournament this season and last.

NOTE: Watson entered this season’s state tournament after finishing second in the club championship in a close match at Army Navy Country Club just a handful of days earlier.