Waterford’s Reese Lang watches his drive during Thursday's Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division match at Lakeside Golf Course. Lang shot a 3-over par 37 as Waterford posted a winning score of 147. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

BEVERLY – Waterford senior Braun Doak fired an even par round of 34 on the front nine here Thursday afternoon at Lakeside Golf Course to help lead the Wildcats to a 147-161 Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division match win versus runner-up Southern.

Doak, who was playing at No. 4 for the Wildcats of head coach Tyson Powers, was two shots better than No. 3 junior Luke Hvizdzak and finished three strokes ahead of No. 1 junior Reese Lang. Wildcat freshman Brock Hurley, who was playing at No. 2, carded a 6-over par 40.

“I tripled hole five. I was 1-over through four,” admitted Lang, whose teammate and No. 5 golfer Briceson Cine carded a 43. “I was doing fine through the rain and then just caught one heavy on my second shot into the water.”

Southern was paced by No. 3 Rece Johnson, who tied Hvizdzak for runner-up honors with a 4-over par effort of 36.

“We lost by two my freshman year. Then last year we lost by one,” Lang said of just missing out on going to the state tournament. “Graduating nobody you expect to come back and do better the next year. We’ve got a good freshman class. I mean we’ve won pretty much everywhere this year.

Waterford senior Braun Doak, pictured here lining up his putt on the No. 2 green, earned medalist honors with an even par round of 34 on the front nine during Thursday's Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division match at Lakeside Golf Course. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“I think we’ve only lost one invitational. Other than that we’ve won everything. Pretty proud of our success. We got about two weeks until sectionals. We should get a win there. Get a win at districts and finally get over the hump hopefully. We’re looking forward to it.”

Also factoring in the team scoring for the runner-up Tornadoes were Kase Nelson (41) as well as Noah Leachman and Hunter Jarrell, who each shot 8-over par rounds of 42.

“We’ve won the last three years in a row,” coach Powers said of the TVC. “We’re doing it a little bit differently this year. It all comes down to the final TVC match. They’ve sort of switched the way that they do it. It will be an 18-hole match next Monday at Oxbow on the 15th. That will determine golfer of the year and the TVC champ. It all comes down to that. This is the first year they’ve done it that way.

“We’re trying to adjust to it. I kind of like the team aspect of it where each match has some meaning. We brought everybody back from the tournament last year and added a nice freshman (Hurley). He lives at the course and is here a lot. He pounds balls everyday. He does everything the right way and he has all kinds of talent. He just has to sort of put everything together each day.”

Four others school were represented at the match with Trimble’s Dirk Walton (41), Eastern’s Dawson King (44), Belpre’s James Lemon (45) and Federal Hocking’s Wayland Guess (57) pacing their respective teams.

Belpre's James Lemon watches his tee shot on the par-3, third hole during Thursday's Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division match at Lakeside Golf Course. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“Having everybody back it’s been the goal since we left Elks last year. It’s been on the top of the list,” coach Powers added of hopefully reaching the big show this fall. “It’s the one thing. Yes, we want to win the TVC and get a sectional win, but getting out of districts is 100% the goal. We’ve been close and we’ve been right there the last couple of years. It’s a 3-footer here. It’s whatever it is.

“It’s a missed chip or whatever. We’re close. They’ve put a lot of work in. These kids have worked really, really hard this summer. They play in different tours and have travelled clear up to Zoar and Wilkshire. Reese went to NorthStar, which is where the state championship will be this year, and he had a nice couple days up there. They’ve worked really hard to take that next step.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

Eastern's Dawson King hits an approach shot toward the No. 2 green during a driving rainstorm at Thursday's Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division match at Lakeside Golf Course. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Waterford's Reese Lang chips the ball onto the first green during Thursday's Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division match at Lakeside Golf Course. Lang shot a 3-over par 37 as Waterford posted a winning score of 147. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Waterford freshman Brock Hurley chips onto the No. 2 green during a Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division match at Lakeside Golf Course. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Waterford senior Briceson Cline hits an approach shot on the second hole during Thursday's Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division match at Lakeside Golf Course. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)