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Ravenswood takes the LKC title

Parkersburg Catholic’s Brice Ferrell putts during the Little Kanawha Conference Championships Monday at the Golf Club of West Virginia. Ferrell carded a 76 to earn LKC Player of the Year honors. Photo by Jordan Holland.

WAVERLY — Three players scored below 80 for Ravenswood as the Red Devils cruised to Monday’s Little Kanawha Conference Championship at the Golf Club of West Virginia.

As a team Ravenswood scored a 316, 26 strokes ahead of second place Parkersburg Catholic (342). Though the team title was never in doubt, the battle for LKC Player of the Year came down to the final hole.

Ravenwood’s Alex Easthom, Williamstown’s Xavier Caruthers and Parkersburg Catholic’s Brice Ferrell all were tied going into the 18th hole. Easthom and Caruthers bogeyed, while Ferrell made par to turn in the best score of the day at 76.

“I just was out here trying to make the most of myself,” Ferrell said. “I was just shooting for All-LKC but I wasn’t expecting to get medalist.”

Easthom and Caruthers both shot 77s to earn All-LKC honors.

“All those top boys played very hard to be in that top position,” said Ravenswood head coach David Rader. “They practice year-round, a lot of them. It means a lot to them.”

Easthom was joined by teammates Carson Fox (78), Ciah Kennedy (78) and Gavin Fox (83) on the all-conference team. Clay County’s Colton Moore (80), Catholic’s Brice Moore (82), St. Marys’ Devin Baxter (83) and Webster County’s Rigel Surbaugh (84) rounded out the All-LKC honorees.

Rader was happy to see his team put together a quality performance.

“I think they played pretty well,” the coach said. “I know the course is pretty tough. Some of the kids weren’t liking a lot of the lies they were getting, but they just kept swinging and came out on top.”

Getting a 78 from their No. 2 and 3 golfers was key to the Devils’ success. Even No. 5 golfer Devin Rains shot an 86.

“Ciah Kennedy stepped it up a bit today. But that’s not unlike him to do that. He’s done that a few times this season,” said Rader, as the local West Virginia golf teams prepare for next week’s regional tournaments.

“They’ve played well all season and I think they’re going to continue to do that even into next week and beyond.”

Catholic finished 16 strokes ahead of third place Roane County (358), which won the LKC last year, followed by Williamstown (368), Gilmer County (373), Braxton County (390), Clay County (412) and last year’s champion Webster County (413). Rounding out the team scores were Tyler Consolidated (423), Calhoun County (457) and Wirt County (481).

Ferrell’s 76 and Moore’s 82 helped solidify the Crusaders’ spot in second place. Hunter Tate added an 88 while Eric Dotson shot a 96 to contribute to the team score.

“I’m glad we got second,” Ferrell said. “Ravenswood is a pretty tough team.”

Ferrell was unhappy with his play in the first half of the match but didn’t let it affect him mentally.

“I didn’t have a very good front nine,” he said. “I just decided to have a positive mindset heading into the back nine and I ended up picking it up.”

Caruthers had a similar round, starting off six-over through four holes. He played strong the rest of the way to finish seven-over.

“I feel like I started off bad,” said the Yellowjackets freshman. “After that I just kind of zoned in and played my game and played well.”

Caruthers said he was feeling the pressure on the pivotal final hole.

“If I would’ve made my putt I would’ve tied (Ferrell),” Caruthers said. “Definitely took an extra second or two to read the putts.

“Overall played pretty well. Just made the putts I should make, hit the fairways like I should and did everything like I should’ve the last 13, 14 holes.”

Complementing Caruthers for Williamstown was Eli Inman (87), Chase Smith (96) and Ian Snodgrass (108).

For Roane, Grayson Watson led the way with an 86. Issac Starcher and Garrett Simon both carded 89s and Ben Fox added a 94.

Haley Wanstreet’s 87 paced Gilmer County, while Anthony Rader’s 88 topped Ritchie and Cheyenne Morris’ 93 led Tyler Consolidated.

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