HURRICANE — The Parkersburg South golf team embraces irony.

For the first time since coach John Badgley took over the program five years ago, the Patriots qualified as a team for the state tournament.

During Tuesday’s Class AAAA South Regional Tournament at Sleepy Hollow Golf Course, South took the fourth and final qualifying spot by finishing with a 251 – three strokes better than Woodrow Wilson (254), which placed fifth.

Three strokes is the same number which prevented South from advancing out of regionals each of the past two seasons.

“The kids are all excited and tickled to death,” Badgley said. “The kids did exactly what I thought they would. They played the type of golf they played all year long. They grinded it out and were very consistent. My first four years, we always sent a representative as an individual, but not as a team. This is very special.

“I can’t be more proud of these guys. Cabell Midland, Hurricane and George Washington are three very good teams, and we knew fourth place would be up for grabs. When we saw the (WVSSAC) change to this new format, we knew we had a chance.”

Senior Cam Fallon, who qualified as an individual the past two seasons, led the Patriots with a 72, while No. 3 in the lineup Jackson Ruble shot an 88. Cooper Welch and Harry Silvis matched each other at 91.

“Before the kids went out, I told them about losing out by three strokes two years in a row – that every stroke counts,” Badgley said. “It so happens with the close scoring that it truly did.”

As golfers approached the halfway mark of Tuesday’s round, South was down in the standings. Parkersburg, behind a pair of 86s from Jack Louden and Dominic Way, gained an edge in possibly finishing fourth in the team standings.

The Big Reds slipped back in the standings on the back nine, while the Patriots inched their way up and stayed ahead of a George Washington contingent which was making a strong push.

With the ability to follow live scoring on each golfer and each team, South stayed the course.

“So many times, golf is considered an individual sport – today, we epitomized the team part of the sport,” Badgley said. “Cam was our first player in the clubhouse and he immediately came back on the course to ride with me. Never once did he mention going to state even if the team doesn’t qualify. He never brought it up. The goal was to get the team there.

“He did everything you can ask of a senior. We lean on Cam every place we go. He is our leader and he was again today. He’s been our rock. The other kids look up to him.”

Regional champion Hurricane (216) along with George Washington (224) and Cabell Midland (229) will also represent the Southern Regional in the field of eight teams at the state meet.