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Big Reds, Devils’ golf on to states

South’s Clegg and PC’s Ferrell and Moore also qualify

Parkersburg High’s golf team qualified for the state tournament a second consecutive season after finsihing second in the Class AAA, Region IV championship Monday at Sleepy Hollow. Celebrating from left to right are: Trey Rossana, Dylan Shaver, Isaac Prine and Garrett Ballway.

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg High and Ravenswood golf teams are ending this season where they ended last season. Both teams qualified out of their respective regionals for another trip to the state golf tournament at Oglebay Resort Thursday at Sleepy Hollow for PHS and Green Hills for Ravenswood.

The Big Reds snared the second qualifying spot after shooting a 236, five strokes behind Class AAA, Region IV winner Cabell Midland’s 231.

“Isaac was Isaac,” said PHS head coach Don Snider of top golfer Isaac Prine, who carded a 74. “I don’t even worry about him.”

Through nine holes, Prine was exactly where his head coach thought he would be after a one-over effort on the Par 72 course.

“I didn’t play my best today,” shared the Mountain State Athletic Conference’s top golfer. “I played well enough so my team could go to state.”

Garrett Ballway, who recorded a 79, surprised the Big Red leader with an even-par performance through the same point.

“I knew the backside was a little tougher, but if they could just hold on and come through we would have a shot,” said Snider.

The Big Red junior’s performance continued a string of impressive showings at the end of the regular season. Ballway took medalist honors in the final three contests for PHS.

Prine and Ballway’s low scores were a welcome sight after Trey Rossana and Dylan Shaver came through the turn at 10-over par each.

However, Rossana limited the damage the rest of the way.

He turned in a round of 83 as the final of the three scores to count toward the team total.

Snider and company are sitting pretty heading to Wheeling next week. Rossana, Prine, and Ballway all have state tournament experience after participating last season. Shaver and Carter Stone join the trio on the state tournament roster. Snider prefers to get someone who hasn’t had state experience in the fray on the second day.

“I think it definitely is,” said Prine, when asked if the Big Reds have an advantage heading to Wheeling. “It will help us out tremendously as we try to win a state title. Plus, we know we can compete with Cabell Midland.”

Parkersburg South’s Logan Clegg joins the PHS quintet, but is only chasing an individual title as the Patriots’ lone qualifier. South’s senior golfer required a few extra holes after shooting a 79 to tie with Hurricane’s Alex Brooks after 18.

Each player played identical on the first two playoff holes. Two shots followed by two putts on the dance floor.

“I thought it was going to be over after one hole,” said South coach BJ Hess of the playoff. “I thought Logan was going to drain a really long putt because he makes the long ones when he needs them to fall.”

Brooks found disaster on the third playoff hole after he hit his approach shot out of bounds. Clegg nailed a 7 or eight foot putt down the hill after being smart with his approach shots to secure the spot.

Meanwhile further north, Ravenswood played smart golf all around to win a Class A, Region IV championship by 30 strokes over runner-up Huntington St. Joe, 221-251.

Carson Fox shot the only under-par round of the day with a 34 on the back nine and a 35 on the front nine for a combined 69.

Alex Easthom had an “up-and-down day” according to his coach, but still signed off on scorecard of 73.

Ciah Kennedy finished with a “solid” 78. His score set the bar high for anyone hoping to compete with the Red Devils for a team title.

Little Kanawha Conference co-member Parkersburg Catholic sent two players to state on the day.

Brice Ferrell and Bryce Moore shot 81 and 85 respectively and snared the two at-large spots in the region.

“Conditions were tough and neither one had there A game today,” said Crusader head man Chris Baker. “They each had some good shots to erase the bad. I expected them each to shoot a couple of strokes better.

Catholic’s two golfer largely played mirror opposite rounds according to their coach.

Ferrell shot a 43 on the back nine, before hitting five strokes better on the front nine. He was a victim of a few nasty bounces courtesy of the cart paths on the course early in the round.

Moore, meanwhile, made the turn at four over but shot eight over on the back nine.

All state qualifiers have a practice round Monday, before the two-day state tournament event begins Oct. 3 on the Trent Jones Course.

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