Parkersburg South golfer Cam Fallon, right., is congratulated by coach John Badgley, after winning the Patriots’ first match as part of Tuesday’s City Cup title at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

VIENNA — Parkersburg South golfer Logan Arnold looked into the archives in reference to the school’s rivalry with Parkersburg as a classroom project last year.

The sophomore may want to add an update with his name included after he sank the putt which clinched Tuesday’s annual City Cup at Parkersburg Country Club.

With the outcome of two matches still undecided and the team score all square at three apiece, Arnold walked off the 17th green with a 2 and 1 victory over playing partner Ayden Whited.

Moments later in the last match of the day, Parkersburg South’s Brennan Taylor and Parkersburg’s Craig Deem tied to give the Patriots a 4.5-3.5 victory.

As defending champs, South would retain the cup should the outcome result in a tie.

Parkersburg’s Jack McLean chips out of a greenside bunker on the 10th hole at Parkersburg Country Club during Tuesday’s City Cup. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“I was so nervous on the 17th green,” said Arnold, who decided to join the golf team for the first time this season. “I knew we had a bunch of good people. I didn’t know it was going to come down to me. But things happened.”

Arnold did not learn he qualified for the City Cup starting lineup until he returned home Monday night after a practice round.

“Logan had left the course and didn’t know,” said South coach John Badgley. “So this is his first time in this type of environment with match play. I don’t think he knew the exact scoring methods. I was trying to keep him up to date.

“He was focused from the first tee ball. He told me he wanted to win.”

South senior Cam Fallon, playing in the No. 1 slot of the lineup, set the tone – securing the Patriots’ first win after the completion of the 11th hole against Jack Louden. Fallon concluded his City Cup career undefeated in four matches.

Parkersburg South golfer Cam Fallon, right., is congratulated by coach John Badgley, after winning the Patriots’ first match as part of Tuesday’s City Cup title at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“I’ve just worked on my short game quite a bit,” Fallon explained. “Last year, I could never really get the putter rolling. Today, I was putting really well and getting off the tee well.

“It’s always good to beat the Big Reds, so there is a little motivation right there.”

Out of the No. 3 hole, teammate Cooper Welch added another win for South after defeating Dominic Way 4 and 2.

On the 15th hole, Welch left little doubt about his outcome. His tee shot on the 178-yard, par 3 stopped just on the edge of the green with a lengthy putt awaiting him. Welch hit a magnificent lag putt and made par.

“That doesn’t surprise me – Cam removed, Cooper has become my most consistent golfer,” Badgley said. “He is a freshman and he stepped up today.”

Parkersburg’s Toby Thompson chips from just off the green at the ninth hole at Parkersburg Country Club during Tuesday’s City Cup. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Teammate Easton Wolfe took care of James D’Eramo 8 and 6 to put the Patriots within one win of defending the City Cup.

Earlier in the day, Parkersburg received two convincing wins from Toby Thompson and Andrew Matheny. Thompson, playing in his first City Cup after transferring from Williamstown for his senior year, defeated Harry Silvis 6 and 5.

“Everything seemed to be working out with my game,” Thompson said. “I loved playing this format. If you really blow up on one hole, it doesn’t mess up your whole round. That’s the beauty of match play.

“I’m still cleaning up some stuff with my game. I need to work on my tee shots right now.”

In the No. 5 spot in the lineup, Matheny as a Big Red freshman defeated Chase Offenberger 7 and 6 for yet another individual making their debut in the City Cup.

Parkersburg’s Andrew Matheny chips from off the green on the 10th hole at Parkersburg Country Club during Tuesday’s City Cup. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“The (City Cup) loss is disappointing, but I got three more years ahead of me and I’m looking forward to that,” Matheny said. “I was struggling with my game in the middle of the year – now I’ve gotten back into my rhythm, and it’s going to be fun.”

The drama at the City Cup never really dissipated. With five holes remaining in his match with Jackson Ruble, Parkersburg’s Jack McLean was up four before Ruble won three straight holes. McLean held on for the 3 and 1 victory then had to get his mindframe into soccer mode for a PHS boys match later in the evening.

McLean’s older sister, Molly, played golf for PHS and shared her City Cup experiences with her brother.

“I heard a lot from my sister about how fun today would be – she told me to stay within myself,” McLean said. “She said if I have to give up a hole, give up the hole. But just stay in it and never give up.

“(Ruble) was closing in, but I was able to get the job done with a birdie on No.17.”

At one juncture with the matches tied at three apiece, the final two matches left on the course sat in favor of South by a margin of only one. Both matches had completed 14 holes.

“It wasn’t a guarantee (we would win),” Badgley said. “But you had Logan Arnold and Brennan Taylor whose scores were important. Their scores mattered, so I like this format from that standpoint because it involves all the kids.”

Arnold took hole No. 15 and eventually clinched at No. 17. Taylor and Deem played their match out and tied.

“It is disappointing,” PHS coach Vince Guice said. “South had a lot of inexperience and we did, too. Six out of our eight have never played high school golf. Yeah, it’s been a work in progress but it’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed it.

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com