Wirt boys in the lead at state golf tourney
Wirt County freshman Jude Walker attempts a putt during the first day of the WVSSAC High School State Golf Tournament at Oglebay Golf Course in Wheeling. Walker shot the low round for Class A with a 3-over-par 74. (Photo provided by the WVSSAC)
St. Marys sophomore Trevor Maley carries his bag in the fairway during the first day of the WVSSAC High School State Golf Tournament at Oglebay Golf Course in Wheeling. Maley shot the second low round for Class A with an 81. (Photo provided by the WVSSAC)
Wirt County freshman Jude Walker attempts a putt during the first day of the WVSSAC High School State Golf Tournament at Oglebay Golf Course in Wheeling. Walker shot the low round for Class A with a 3-over-par 74. (Photo provided by the WVSSAC)
St. Marys sophomore Trevor Maley carries his bag in the fairway during the first day of the WVSSAC High School State Golf Tournament at Oglebay Golf Course in Wheeling. Maley shot the second low round for Class A with an 81. (Photo provided by the WVSSAC)
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WHEELING - The message for Day 2 and the final round of the WVSSAC High School State Golf Tournament is simple for the Wirt County program. Tune out the noise and play your game.
Wednesday at Oglebay Golf Course, the Tigers posted the low team score for the Class A field as freshman Jude Walker put some separation between himself and the rest of the field.
"For the first day, my kids held it together," Wirt County coach Daneen Shears said. "On Thursday, I want my kids to play their own game and keep their thinking about everybody else out of their mind."
Walker posted a 3-over par 74, which resulted in a seven-stroke lead over his nearest competitor - sophomore Trevor Maley from St. Marys.
"The course was especially tough on the back nine - you had to play smart off the tee," said Walker, who was the model of consistency after going 1-over on the front and 2-over on the back. His round consisted of one birdie and 13 pars. "I was able to avoid any trouble. I didn't give myself makeable birdie putts but I did putt well. I made more pars than usual, but I am happy with the round.
"On Thursday, I will try to control what I can control and see how it ends up."
Also representing Wirt County were Titus Smith (87) and JJ Smith (88), who kept themselves among the top 10 individuals and in contention for all-tournament consideration. Teammate Kate Dotson, competing in her first state tournament, rounded out the group with a 97.
"It wasn't my best day today," Dotson said. "I struggled with my putting. There were hard pin placements and I tried to keep damage control on each. I tried to get up and down and as best as I could on every hole.
"Thursday, I will just forget my round today and go in with a fresh mindset."
In order to secure its second state title in school history and the first since 2002, Wirt County must contend with a St. Marys team which is in second place and just five strokes back (249-254).
After a rough start to the back nine, Maley righted the ship for the homestretch, playing his final five holes at 1-over.
In addition to Maley, the Blue Devils were represented by Tripp Morrison (84), Desmond Parks (89) and Zach Roush (96). Tripp currently sits in a two-way tie for third place.
Behind an 87 from Troy Woodford, Gilmer County opened their state tourney quest in sixth place at 281.
Day 1 for the Class AA field included a pair of local golfers putting themselves in contention for all-tournament selection.
Tyler Consolidated senior John Mace turned in a score of 9-over par 80 and sits in third place on the individual leaderboard entering Thursday's final round. Another senior, Williamstown's Madilyn Buttrey, is among a trio of golfers who tied for eighth place with an 85.
Tyler Consolidated as a team received a 92 from its No. 4 golfer Xavier Kanz and a 93 from Collin King for a collective 265, which left the Silver Knights in fifth place among the eight-team field.
Midland Trail, which turned in the low team score at 237, along with second-place Wheeling Central (251), both have three golfers who are among the top 10 individuals. Midland Trail's Jacob Brown set the pace with a 74.
Roane County's Wattson Nichols also represented the Mid-Ohio Valley with a 114.
WVSSAC High School State Golf Tournament
At Oglebay Golf Course, Wheeling
First Round
Par 71
Class A
Team Standings: 1. Wirt County 249; 2. St. Marys 254; 3. Charleston Catholic 270; 4. Tygarts Valley 272; 5. Pendleton County 280; 6. Gilmer County 281; 7. Greater Beckley Christian 294; 8. Summit Christian Academy 300
Wirt County: Jude Walker 74, Titus Smith 87, JJ Smith 88, Kate Dotson 97
St. Marys: Tripp Morrison 84, Zach Roush 96, Trevor Maley 81, Desmond Parks 89
Gilmer County: Tyler Ratliff 94, Troy Woodford 87, Rhys Clum 100, Jeren Hutchins 110
Top 10 Individuals: 1.Jude Walker, Wirt County, 74; 2. Trevor Maley, St. Marys, 81; T3. Tripp Morrison, St. Marys, 84; T3. West Wayne, Richwood, 84; 5. Nathan Davis, Tucker County, 86; 6T. Titus Smith, Wirt County, 87; 6T. Preston Young, Charleston Catholic, 87; 6T. Troy Woodford, Gilmer County, 87; 9T. JJ Smith, Wirt County, 88; 9T. Alijah Row-Sponaugle, Tygarts Valley, 88.
Class AA
Team Standings: 1. Midland Trail 237; 2. Wheeling Central 251; 3. Wyoming East 262; 4. Berkeley Springs 265; 5. Tyler Consolidated 265; 6. Sissonville 271; 7. Petersburg 287; 8. Logan 309
Tyler Consolidated: John Mace 80, Collin King 93, Cade Heintzman 99, Xavier Kanz 92
Top 10 Individuals: 1. Jacob Brown, Midland Trail, 74; 2. Cayden Swink, Berkeley Springs, 76; 3. John Mace, Tyler Consolidated, 80; 4T. Rowen Parker, Wheeling Central, 81; 4T Camryn Thomas, Midland Trail, 91; 6T. Guy Meneely, Weir, 82; 6T. Landyn Cordle, Midland Trail, 82; 8T. Madilyn Buttrey, Williamstown, 85; 8T. Zack Zende, Wheeling Central, 85; 8T. Isaac Tiu, Wheeling Central, 85
Roane County: Wattson Nichols 114