Day 3 at the Fox Puss

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Championship Sunday – Fox Puss 2025

Championship Sunday started earlier than planned as day 2 Saturday was cut short with a dramatic weather twist as storms rolled in from the south, cutting play short after just 10 holes for the leaders. They returned early Sunday morning to finish Round 2, and by the end of round 2, two Boonsboro members—Luke Libbey and Jeb Burton V—would be paired together along with Marine Nick Brediger .

With a strong local following and high expectations, round 3 kicked off under clear skies and electric energy. All eyes were on the two hometown contenders—and the Marine whose game and grit had quickly made him a fan favorite.

Down the Stretch They Came

After starting with bogies on holes 1 and 2 Luke Libbey played the next fourteen holes three under par. After hitting a tee shot within 15 feet at the par 3 17th, he appeared to be on his way to victory. With an exceptional tee-to-green game, Libbey only needed a two-putt par from fifteen feet to hold a two-shot lead going into the final hole. Meanwhile, playing one group ahead, Brandon Sipe was surging with the round of the day—a brilliant 68—and had earlier birdied 16 to pull within two.

With Libbey's tee shot close on 17, it seemed the deal was sealed. But as golf often reminds us—it’s never that simple.

He left his first putt short and then pushed the comeback effort, settling for a bogey. Just like that, the lead was down to one, and the crowd tightened as they moved to the 18th.

Jeb Burton V, playing in the final group, struggled through the day and carded an 8-over 79, falling out of contention. Still, he gave the crowd a thrill with a clutch putt on 18 that brought fans to their feet—one of the moments of the day.

On the final hole, Luke’s drive was perfect. His second shot? Nearly perfect—five feet from the pin, though above the hole. Anyone familiar with Boonsboro knows: above the hole is no bargain. His birdie putt grazed the edge and rolled two feet past.

You could almost hear Boonsboro whisper: It’s not that easy, Luke.

He gathered himself, lined up the two-footer, and dropped it—sealing a one-shot victory and becoming the 2025 Fox Puss Champion.

2025 Fox Puss Champion Luke Libbey (L) Tournament Chair Norman Darden (R)

Luke Didn’t Win This Alone.

Championship golf is a family commitment. That truth echoed in Jake Ashton’s mom’s words (Jake finished 4th) and was evident in the support surrounding Jeb Burton IV and V. It was also heard in Luke’s emotional acceptance speech, where he thanked his family, the club pros, the grounds crew, and everyone involved.

“I’ve been dreaming about this since I was five years old,” he said.

And with the gallery encircling the 18th green swelling with pride, there was a sense that even bigger dreams are now taking shape—for Luke Libbey, and for Boonsboro.

Libbey family. (L to R) Sister, father, mother, Luke and girlfriend.

Competitors and Their Families

In Sunday’s second group was Jake Albert of Blacksburg—the player I mentioned earlier this week who hit a hybrid over 250 yards on the 10th hole, turning heads and reminding everyone that the next generation of golfers is already here.

As I followed his group, I had the chance to speak with his mother, Kathy Harrell. When I asked her what it takes to raise and support a highly accomplished junior golfer, her answer was simple: “Time.”

Kathy, who works in finance, spends much of her free time not just supporting Jake, but sharing the game with him. She recently shot a one-under-par round herself—though she humbly doesn’t consider herself a strong golfer. With that kind of score, it’s clear the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

Jake’s love for the game was sparked by his grandparents. Raised by Kathy as a single mom, Jake was often picked up from daycare by his grandparents, who spent countless hours with him on the golf course. As a fellow golfing grandparent, I can’t think of anything more rewarding than nurturing a child on the fairways and greens—and watching them grow into this accomplished golfer.

Jake Albert From tiny swings to now tournament tees Photo:

Jake delivered one of the highlights of the day by reaching the par 4 12th hole in one setting up a tap-in eagle. His shot was the closest to the hole all day.

Next year, Jake will take his game to the next level at Auburn, the top-ranked golf school in the nation. It almost feels like destiny—every school he attended growing up in the Blacksburg area had “Auburn” in its name. Kathy joked that Jake's game might be slipping a little lately, thanks to typical teenage distractions—but there was no sign of that on the course Sunday.

Kathy Harrell (R)and her son Jake Albert (L)

Quiet Please

When you observe competitive golf at this level what you hear “sounds” like you are attending a convention for introverts as no one speaks. I am not sure why that is. Maybe it takes full concentration? Maybe it is such an individual game you only talk to yourself? Maybe it is the culture? The gallery follows that same lead where you can hear a pin drop. The Phoenix Open on the 16^th with grandstands surrounding the entire hole is packed full of raucous crowds and that doesn’t appear to hurt the quality of play.

For an extrovert and curious guy like me, I love the competition, but I also love people and getting to know them. One of the things I love about golf is the comradery, playing with your friends and meeting new people. Maybe loosening up a little might lead to better play, buy I learned you save that for another less competitive time.

Boonsboro Holds up to the Test

The course was in fantastic shape Sunday despite absorbing 1.5 inches of rain. Much of the credit goes to Boonsboro’s golf superintendent Ken O’Brien and his team for delivering a championship-ready layout.

The only real casualties were the tents on 12—and the players who were cut and didn’t make it to the final round. With clear skies and crisp conditions, it turned out to be a perfect day to play great golf on a great golf course. No tents required.

As predicted, the real winners were the greens and the rough. The combination of slick, sloped greens and thick, wet rough made scoring difficult and prevented anyone from mounting a serious charge.

Semper Fi

I spoke with third-place finisher Marine Kent Bredinger, who was in the hunt until a costly double bogey on 12 during his early-morning continuation of Round 2. His drive found the soggy rough, which grabbed his club and led to a short shot into the greenside bunker. His next shot flew long, and he walked away with a double bogey on a hole where many expect birdie—or even eagle. He finished three strokes back—exactly what that hole cost him.

Bredinger grew up in Roanoke and played college golf at Radford. He is a Marine who lives in the Charlottesville area and is a Marine recruiter. He recruits more than golfers, but he shared they do have a very good golf team. The strength of his game was a soft touch that belied his size. He says he loves it at the Fox Puss and plans to be back next year.