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Cooper Welch medals, South golf tops PHS in dual

By Jay W. Bennett 5 min read

MINERAL WELLS -- Rivalry week continued here Wednesday afternoon at The Links at Woodridge and first-year Parkersburg South head coach Marty Holmes watched his Patriots finally solve Parkersburg on the links following a 158-175 dual meet victory.

Patriot sophomore Cooper Welch fired an even par round of 35 to lead the way, while Easton Wolfe (40), Jack Ruble (41) and Cooper Sams (42) accounted for the rest of the team scoring.

"It was pretty warm, but it cooled down as the day went on," admitted Welch. "Still, super hot and just trying to keep your hands from not sweating so much.

"All pars through seven holes and I ended up bogeying eight, but then on the last hole here I had a great tee shot, stuck it close and made birdie on the last hole."

Welch said he's tied for medalist honors before this year, but it's his first career solo win.

By the time he finished his round, the temperature was still 91 degrees with a heat index of 104.

"Being patient out there and getting up and down a lot, which is helpful. Making some putts and staying patient," Welch said of what the key to the round was. "Most of the time I was getting up and down. I didn't hit many greens, but when I did hit a green it was pretty good.

"I think we're good where we are at right now. We'll see at regionals I guess. It's been a little bit of a rough season for me, but just staying patient, just staying true to myself and trusting the game. Proud of the team and happy how I played."

PHS head coach Vince Guice had respective rounds of 42 thanks to No. 1 golfer Jack Louden and No. 6 golfer Jackson Brown. Gavin Fling's 45 and Dominic Way's 46 followed.

"Hats off to coach Marty and South," expressed Guice. "They played really well today. We started off bad and it continued to get worse. We have had a jam-packed first part of the season.

"Our schedule gets considerably lighter from here on out. We will be able to practice and get to work on the things we need to in order to be successful at the regionals."

Each team was allowed to play six golfers with the top four counting toward the team score. Also competing for the Big Reds were Katie Ann Lemaster (47) and Andrew Matheny (48).

"This was our fifth time playing them," admitted Holmes. "We lost to them at the (Parkersburg) Country Club by nine strokes, I think it was to start our season. We lost to them in the City Cup in a close match and then we played at Hurricane with them and lost by four strokes. Then we played yesterday at Wahama (Riverside) and lost by two strokes (162-164). We have been building up to this and getting better week in and week out and this is a goal, but our goal is the regionals.

"We just chipped away and progressively get better as a team. This is my first year coaching. I found out I got the job the day before our first match, so this is my first run with these guys and they made it to the state tournament last year. I'm really proud of these kids. They come in and put in the work every single day. I couldn't be more blessed for this group of kids and we're young."

The Patriots, who turn right around and welcome in Marietta for a 4 p.m. dual today, also received a 47 from Garrett Cline and a 53 by Colt Scott.

"Cooper, Jack and Easton are all just real consistent golfers and you know they are going to come out and give an accurate best portrayal of what South golf is all about," Holmes added. "Rivalry week we treated yesterday as preparing for today and they beat us fair and square, and we came in and beat them today. Just proud of the kids. They wanted it today and they went out and got it.

"Listen, PHS, I coached Gavin Fling in basketball back in the day. It's just a great group of kids, too, and it's good to see the level of golf in this area. It's top-notch and we'll be battling PHS for a chance to go to states for sure. Coach Guice is somebody I've worked with for years and have known him for years. Great guy and we're proud of PHS and South and look forward to one of us or both of us making it to the state. That's our goal."

Parkersburg now has a few days of practice before taking on Warren at 4 p.m. on Monday at Oxbow.

The Patriots also won the junior varsity match, 183-226, behind Carter Strothers (43), Tripp James (44), James Thompson (46) and Branson Forshey (50).

PHS was represented by Camille Tatterson (52), Aubree Conzo (54), James D'Eramo (57) and Wyatt Jones (63).

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

At The Links at Woodridge

Front 9, par 35

TEAM SCORES: Parkersburg South 158, Parkersburg 175

South: Cooper Welch 35 (medalist), Easton Wolfe 40, Jack Ruble 41, Cooper Sams 42, Garrett Cline 47, Colt Scott 53

PHS: Jack Louden 42, Jackson Brown 42, Gavin Fling 45, Dominic Way 46, Katie Ann Lemaster 47, Andrew Matheny 48

JV: Parkersburg South 183, Parkersburg 226

South JV: Carter Strothers 43, Tripp James 44, James Thompson 46, Branson Forshey 50

PHS JV: Camille Tatterson 52, Aubree Conzo 54, James D'Eramo 57, Wyatt Jones 63

Next matches: Marietta vs. Parkersburg South, 4 p.m. today at The Links at Woodridge; Parkersburg vs. Warren, 4 p.m. Monday at Oxbow.

Starting at /week.