Pictured are the four-year participants in the West Virginia Girls Golf Invitational Tuesday at Mingo Bottom Golf Course in Elizabeth. In the front row, from left to right, are Parkersburg South’s Olivia Foley, Parkersburg’s Brielle Milhoan and Fairmont Senior’s Gianna Koski. In the back row, from left to right, are Woodrow Wilson’s Alley Denny, Herbert Hoover’s Chloe Painter and Westside’s Kerri-Ann Cooke. Not pictured are Hurricane’s Savannah Hawkins and Morgantown’s Grace Yan. (Photo Provided by WVSSAC)

ELIZABETH — Hurricane senior Savannah Hawkins wasn’t able to best her score from last year’s WVSSAC Girls State Golf Invitational Championship, but nonetheless the Redskin successfully defended her title here Tuesday at Mingo Bottom Golf Club by shooting a 2-under par round of 70.

Hawkins, who fired a record 4-under 68 in 2022, made birdie on three of the five par-5s.

Westside’s Kerri-Anne Cook shot an even par round of 72 and finished runner-up after placing third last year.

Cooke and Hawkins were joined as four-year participants in the event by Parkersburg’s Brielle Milhoan, Parkersburg South’s Olivia Foley, Fairmont Senior’s Gianna Koski, Herbert Hoover’s Chloe Painter, Woodrow Wilson’s Alley Denny and Morgantown’s Grace Yan.

Kerr and Yan finished with 79s and tied for third. George Washington’s Scarlett Albertson carded an 80 and rounded out the top five just ahead of the Big Red Milhoan, who shot an 81, and finished solo sixth.

Williamstown’s Madilyn Buttrey finished with an 82 to garner solo seventh.

Mackenzie Armstrong of St. Marys tied Wheeling Central’s Maddie Potts for eighth with respective rounds of 83.

The Patriot Foley finished with a 90 to tie for 15th. Wirt County’s Lauren Cline, who had a 91, was the only other area player to crack the top 20 in 17th place.

Also competing from the area were Parkersburg South’s Leigha Keadle (22nd, 97), Wahama’s Payton Barnitz (T26th, 99), St. Marys’ Addie Davis (28th, 100), Parkersburg’s Kali Grueneberg (T39th, 114), Ritchie County’s Sophie Layman (T39th, 114), Tyler Consolidated’s Morgan Fisher (T41st, 115), Webster County’s Maddie Williams (T46th, 123), SMHS Blue Devil Alyssa Dawson (50th, 128) and WCHS Highlander Gracyn Durham (52nd, 151).