For the third straight year, there was no doubt about the best high school golfer in the Richmond area.
Monacan senior Talon Dingledine has completed the All-Metro player of the year three-peat after another stellar season.
“Talon’s success on the golf course can be attributed to several factors, including his work ethic, sheer talent and bulldog approach he takes to each stroke within a match,” Monacan coach Scott Thackston said. “His ability to pull off the shot he envisions time after time is remarkable.”
Dingledine won the Region 4B individual title and finished third at states with an even-par 70. He was a nine-time individual medalist, including at the Lake Chesdin Invitational and the Dominion District tournament.
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Dingledine had an overall stroke average of 34 (33.8 9-hole, 68.2 18-hole), a school record. He was 35-under par on the season.
“(Talon Dingledine’s) success on the golf course can be attributed to several factors, including his work ethic, sheer talent and bulldog approach he takes to each stroke within a match,” said Monacan coach Scott Thackston. “His ability to pull off the shot he envisions time after time is remarkable.”
The next chapter of his life will be at William & Mary, where he committed to play golf in February.
“It was really the first offer I had,” Dingledine said.
“I love the school. Both my parents went there. (My) dad (Ray) played golf there, and my mom (Kim) ran track. I’ve been around the school.”
Golf is just a part of life for the Dingledine family. Talon has been playing tournament golf since he was 6 years old.
“Let’s not forget, he was basically born with a putter in his hand as he chased behind his dad Ray and brother Quint,” Thackston said. “Now the only thing Talon has to chase are the goals he sets for himself.”
Talon has only ever wanted to golf.
“I don’t think there’s ever been a time in my life where I wasn’t thinking about taking golf seriously,” he said.
“It’s always been number one, and I’ve loved every second of it.”
His brother, Quint, was a three-time All-Metro and all-state selection. He now plays for Lafayette, where he is a senior.
“It honestly has helped me a lot with the competition,” Talon Dingledine said of his family’s influence. “We have a lot of good competition with each other. It makes you improve. It definitely highlights areas I need to work on.
“I want to get my game to a point where it isn’t right now. I’m trying to continue to grow it, and I’m looking forward to the competition whether it’s through Stonehenge (Golf Course), my family or at college.”
Talon Dingledine is the 2024 All-Metro golfer of the year
For Dingledine, following in his parents’ footsteps was never a focus, but it definitely had a big impact on him.
“It was always on my mind. I’ve been around the school a lot, obviously,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it was a set dream, but I definitely had a lot of outside influence. I knew it was a great school. I knew I loved the area.”
Dingledine visited UNC Wilmington and Richmond before committing to the Tribe. William & Mary was the right place for him not only because of golf but also the academics.
“I know what I’m getting academically,” he said. “It’ll be a tough challenge. School has always been important to me.”
Dingledine spoke highly of W&M coach Tim Pemberton, who once played for the Tribe. Dingledine already knows a lot of guys on the team after playing with them earlier in his career.
“I really want to go in and make an impact on the team,” Dingledine said.
“I just want to play good golf and see where that puts me. I want to actually prove that I belong there. I want to get off running and just keep developing to be the best I can be.”
Talon Dingledine is the 2024 All-Metro golfer of the year.
Meet the rest of the first team
Ben Cowgill
About: Cowgill emerged as the Mavericks’ top golfer this season, leading Freeman to a Colonial District title and Region 5C championship for the first time since 1999. He shot 9-under on the season with a 71.8 18-hole average. Cowgill was the 5C individual titlist and Colonial District individual champion with a 72. He also won the 2024 RGA Junior Championship. Cowgill medaled in eight events, finishing first in six. He played in 12 matches total with a round best 3-under 33 at Magnolia Green.
Harrison Beaudoin
About: Beaudoin, a first-team all-region and all-state selection, was a medalist in four matches. He had a 9-hole scoring average of 35.9. He tied for first place at the Lake Chesdin Invitational, finished second at the Dominion District tournament and fifth at the Birds of Prey Invitational.
Carter Bransford
About: Bransford and Parker Noonan led the way for the Wildcats, who finished third at states. Bransford shot 79 at states and shot a 71 to win a Region 6A title. She shot a 7-under to win the girls division at the Frable Invitational.
Laddie Decker
About: Decker, a two-time second-team All-Metro selection, and Evan Salapka helped the Raiders finish third in Class 4, the best showing in school history. Decker, the son of Richmond coach Adam Decker, has long been a top player in the region. He finished tied for first as a junior. This past season, he had a 37.9 average and shot a 72 at states to finish fourth.
Luca Rinaldi
About: Rinaldi finished tied for second in the Region 5C tournament with a 1-under 70 to qualify for states. He is quickly rising the ranks to become one of the top golfers in the area. He won the Frable Invitational with an 8-under and finished 11th at the Lake Chesdin Invitational with a 77.
Coach of the year
Scott Thackston
About: Thackston repeats as coach of the year after leading the Chiefs to a second-place finish in Class 4 with a 32-over 312. Thackston coached Dingledine, the player of the year, second-teamer Cooper Dillman and talented seniors Aydan Smith and Grayson Gardner, along with newcomers Luke Brill (senior) and Carter Sams (sophomore).
Meet the second team
Parker Noonan — Senior, Deep Run
Cooper Dillman — Senior, Monacan
Evan Salapka — Junior, Atlee
Graham Weinstein — Sophomore, Midlothian
Charlie White — Senior, Douglas Freeman
Jackson Wright — Junior, Midlothian
Joseph Winston — Senior, Douglas Freeman
Daniel Christian — Senior, Glen Allen
Karoline Sweet — Freshman, Cosby
Past golfers of the year
2023: Talon Dingledine, Monacan
2022: Talon Dingledine, Monacan
2021: Ethan Snow, Deep Run
2020: Tatum Walsh, St. Catherine’s
2019: Charlie Hanson, Deep Run
2018: Charlie Kennedy, Mills Godwin
2017: Cameron Moore, Glen Allen
2016: Ward Wilkinson, Hanover
2015: Adam Hade, Deep Run
2014: Mark Lawrence Jr., Godwin
2013: Mark Lawrence Jr., Godwin
2012: Lyberty Anderson, Manchester
2011: Mark Lawrence Jr., Godwin
2010: Chris O’Neill, Deep Run
2009: Chris O’Neill, Deep Run
2008: Nick Austin, James River
2007: Nick Austin, James River
2006: Nick Austin, James River
2005: Hunter Townsend, Deep Run
2004: Thanompol Soongnarata, Bird
2003: Will Oldham, Freeman
2002: Daryl Chappell, Dinwiddie
2001: Jackie Beers, Monacan
2000: Jackie Beers, Monacan
From the Archives: Golf in Richmond
In November 1967, Arnold Palmer was in Richmond for a quick visit. He attended a brunch and news conference, conducted a golf clinic and participated in an exhibition foursome at the Country Club of Virginia. Teamed with Hermitage Country Club pro Mac Main, Palmer lost the exhibition to 17-year-old local amateur Lanny Wadkins and his partner, U.S. and British Amateur champion Bob Dickson. Palmer admittedly paid more attention to entertaining the crowd than to his play.
In October 1954, Gen. Omar Bradley (left) was in Richmond to kick off the Richmond Area Community Fund drive. While here, he played golf in a foursome at the Country Club of Virginia. Charlie Yates, the 1938 British Amateur champion and former Walker Cup standout, was limited to being a spectator after cutting his finger. (The general and the Rev. Holt Souder lost by two strokes to Ed Anderson and Yates’ replacement, Richmond Gray.) General Omar Bradley (left) and Former British Amateur Champion Charlie Yates Yates, Who Cut Left Forefinger, Watched Bradley’s Golf Game at CCV Yesterday.
In October 1954, national amateur champion Arnold Palmer (center) participated in an exhibition on the James River course at the Country Club of Virginia, finishing with a round of 3-over on the par 70 course. He and fellow standout amateur Billy Joe Patton (right), who nearly won that year’s Masters Tournament, were partners in the exhibition. They are pictured with local golf pro Darrell Napier.
In May 1968, the 18th annual Country Club of Virginia Member-Guest golf tournament was held; the winning duo shot 1-under par over three rounds to win by one stroke. The club, founded in 1908, opened its clubhouse in 1910, with the fourth-largest membership (about 1,100) of any country club in the nation.
In June 1968, 18-year-old golfer Lanny Wadkins (left) celebrated his Richmond Golf Association Amateur victory over Bill Wood.
Lanny Wadkins, 10, at the Meadowbrook Country Club.
Lanny Wadkins, holding trophy, returned home wiht the championship award he received for winning the National Pee Wee golf title at Orlando, Fla. He is shown with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Wadkins, and 11-year-old brother, Bobby.
A 1985 file photo of Arnold Palmer.
A 05/16/1970 file photo of Arnold Palmer.
Sam Snead in Richmond, June 1973.
06-17-1981 (cutline): Latest R.G.A. champion gets together with some former tourney winners. (from left): Robert Wrenn, Charlie Kent, Earl Howell, Jimmy Morgan and Bill Tomlinson.
06-10-1948 (cutline): Mrs. C.N. Carter is shown as she blasted out of the creek which runs across the eleventh fairway of the Glenwood Country Club course yesterday. Mrs. Carter got a bit wet, but her game wasn’t at all. She won her third flight quarter-final match in the city women’s golf champsionship from Mrs. Robert Thompson, 6 and 4.
06-12-1969 (cutline): Jim McGuffin chips to 18th green during yesterday’s RGA amateur qualifying.
01-13-1962 (cutline): J.G. “Punkie” Lumpkin Jr., Bobby Neal and Paul Barksdale are among those who advanced into the second round of the Richmond Golf Association’s amateur championship at Meadowbrook Country Club. Lumpkin and Neal represent the host club. Barksdale is from Glenwood. Neal wone the RGA junior championship two years ago.
06-25-1964 (cutline) Semifinalists in city women’s golf play today. Mrs. Glenn Knox, Mrs. Robert Hughes, Miss Jane Mack and Mrs. Wesley Caire (left to right).
05-23-1962 (cutline): Mrs. Howard L. Eller (left) accompanies daughter, Mrs. Gordon P. Street Jr., around course.
06-09-1962 (cutline): Mrs. Hughes Wins, 2 and 1. Mrs. Robert Hughes (left) today captured the Hermitage Country Club women’s golf title with a 2 and 1 victory over Mrs. James Dawson (right). Mrs. Hughes led 4 up after 13 with the help of a front nin 38 but Mrs. Dawson rallied to extend the match to the 17th hole.
06-23-1964 (cutline) Mrs. Wes Clair (left), Mrs. Armistead Williams. Both reached championship flight for first time.
06-18-1962 (cutline): Two newcomers to the championship flight of Richmond’s women’s golf are shown above with medalist. Left to right are Mrs. Benajmin Dennis III of Country Club of Virginia, Mrs. Donald O’Brien, whose qualifying 77 led 104 contestants yesterday, and Mrs. Warren Spear of Richmond Country Club. Qualifying for the championship for the first time, Mrs. Dennis and Mrs. Spear had 84s.
06-27-1972 (cutline): Medalist Mrs. Donald O’Brien, Defender Jane Mack share joke.
05-25-1962 (cutline) Finalists in Women’s Southern Golf Championship. Marge Burns (left) and Clifford Ann Creed in a relaxing moment.
