MOVJGA wraps up year today at South Hills

PARKERSBURG - In all likelihood the crowning of the summer Mid-Ohio Valley Junior Golf Association champions will be just a formality today at South Hills.

However, that doesn't mean when the final tournament gets under way at 8:30 a.m. there isn't going to be something to play for.

Waterford sophomore Brandyn Offenberger leads runner-up Seth Vannoy, a freshman at Marietta, by a count of 97-73. Offenberger, though, has clinched his second consecutive 13-15 age group title because he leads by more than 20 points.

"I wish my driver would be better," said Offenberger of what's wrong with his game as the high school season quickly approaches. "I've been hitting my 3-wood off the tee box.

"I hit the 3-wood 250 down the middle all the time. If I could straighten my drive I'd be hitting 280. I feel pretty confident in everything else."

The same scenario of a big lead holds true in the 16-18 division as Fort Frye senior Zach Warren has produced 142 points and has the $1,000 scholarship all to himself.

That's not the case for the $500 scholarship for second place as rival golfers Jansen McCloy and Austin Root are separated by just six points, 111-105.

"I've got him where I want him," quipped the Parkersburg South senior Root of McCloy, a senior at Parkersburg.

"I like it (my chances). It's my home course."

In order for Root to make up the half dozen points he would need to finish first and have McCloy take fourth or snag runner-up honors and have the Big Red take sixth, which has been his worst finish this season.

Warren has competed in all eight tournaments to date while Root has made a half dozen events and McCloy seven.

The race for runner-up honors in the 13-15 age group is probably going to either Alex Schreckengost or Mac McCormick. Vannoy will not be at South Hills today as he's spending the week at the Greenbrier Classic. Schreckengost leads McCormick, 70-66, while Trent McCutcheon and Michael Sams have 59 points apiece.

Adeena Shears has virtually sewn up her title in the 12-and-under group as the seventh grader at Edison Middle School leads runner-up Alex Easthom of Ravenswood by a count of 109-97. However, Alec Milhoan has 91 points overall and still could be a factor for second place accolades.