Robbie, now a sophomore at Spotswood High School, had a chore in following his own act as a freshman in 2009 — arguably the best freshman season in District history. Some might say he had a sophomore slump in 2010; so here's what a sophomore slump looks like for Robbie Failes: one tournament and one win on the MAPGA  Junior Tour; one tournament and one win on the Capital Area Junior Tour; one tournament and one win on the First Citizens Tour; qualifying for one of ten spots to represent Virginia against Maryland (by making a 40-foot putt in a playoff) as a member of the Capital Cup Team; finishing as a quarter-finalist in the Bobby Bowers Memorial after qualifying as a #3-seed; winning the camp tournament at Jerry Haas' Wake Forest Golf Camp; winning 5 of 6 regular-season District matches; Massanutten District Player of the Year for the second time in two seasons; co-medalist in the District Championship; All-Regional Team; and qualifier for the State Championship. Junior golfers dream of slumps like that, and Robbie's coach is more proud than ever. 

Robbie is currently spending the winter months as a leader on the undefeated JV Basketball team at Spotswood.

Coach's Comments

If I ever met anyone who seemed to be born to play golf, it's Robbie Failes. He can be found at the course something like 300 days per year, and he always seems as happy to be there as he was the day before.

And he has a real talent for the game too — as evidenced by the 72 he posted in a junior tour event in 2007 (at Old Trail), and by the drubbing he gave his coach 4 years ago; he was two under par in a 5-hole match, beating his coach 3 & 1. Not bad for a 12-year old.

Now Robbie is 16, and at 6'3" he's becoming an even more imposing figure on the golf course.