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Callaway Junior Tour makes final stop at Parkersburg Country Club

By Kerry Patrick 4 min read

VIENNA -- A pair of high school golf programs from Putnam County dominated the awards ceremony during the final leg of the Callaway Junior Tour's High School Series Monday at Parkersburg Country Club.

Parkersburg senior Joey Koreski, however, didn't let their guests have all the fun. Koreski represented the lone local golfer among the top 10 individual scores after shooting even-par 73 on his home course.

Koreski made eagle early in his round and credited his consistency as part of the end result.

"When I woke up today, I felt pretty bad -- sometimes those days are your best days," Koreski said.

"After the eagle, I told myself let's get out of here and make pars and get out of here with a good round. And that's what I did.

"It was consistent all around -- usually I don't hit my driver like that. I was getting things up and down, and hitting the ball straight. I was asking for one of these days and I finally got it."

Behind Jackson Woodburn's 70, Winfield claimed the team title with a three-man composite score of 1-under 219. Hurricane, which had the overall championship all but wrapped up entering yesterday's event, took third as Savannah Hawkins paced the Redskins with a 71. Hurricane's team total of 222 followed Cabell Midland's runner-up showing of 221.

Three of Hurricane's four golfers broke 80. With less than a month remaining before the postseason, the Redskins are seeking to improve upon last year's third-place finish at state. Their quest begins right back at PCC for regionals.

"We focus on consistency -- that's what we are trying to improve," Hurricane coach Courtney Dolin said. "With all the golf they have played the past couple of years has helped. All four of my golfers just love golf . They are all out there all the time. They are a good team to coach because they are always together anyways.

"I never like to say what our chances are in the postseason, but I do think if we play the way we have been I think we are a solid contender."

Cabell Midland's Jack Michael, who earned a U.S. Open qualifying spot earlier this year at PCC, was medalist at 6-under 67 and a member of foursome which played the the 18-hole round at a combined 11-under. The group also included Hawkins, Campbell (70) and Wheeling Park's Campbell Koegler (73).

"It didn't really seem like we were playing that well until the last couple of holes and we realized we were all pretty deep," Michael said. "I was focusing on myself and not paying too much attention on other people, so it as fun to have good vibes in the group."

Two St. Marys golfers -- Preston Lawhon (77) and Cole Darnold (78) -- broke 80 and led the Blue Devils to the highest finish among schools in the Mid-Ohio Valley after placing sixth with a 238 in a field of 29 teams.

"I thought we had a really good showing," said St. Marys golf coach Catie Hamilton. "We still have some work to do, but I think we've had a great start to the season. The kids put in a lot of work over the summer and have put up some great scores early in the season.

"I was really happy with Preston Lawhon and Cole Darnold. They both shot in the 70s. The conditions were playing really tough with as hot as it was."

The domino effect followed with Parkersburg taking seventh at 239 and Parkersburg South finishing eighth at 240. Cam Fallon just missed out on the top 10 with 11th place finish of 75.

Area schools also competing included Warren placing 15th at 258 behind John Wharton's 82 and Brayden Parsons' 86.

Williamstown's Will Barniak made the top 15 list with his 77 as part of the Yellowjackets' 18th place finish (267).

Not breaking the top 20 teams were Ripley's tie for 22nd place at 279, Roane County matching North Marion for 22nd place at 279 and Wirt County's 29th place finish at 370.

Fielding a second 'B' squad were Parkersburg (17th, 262), Parkersburg South (20th, 276), St. Marys (tie for 25th, 282) and Warren (27th, 306).

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com

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