Tornado – Greenbrier East and Beckley were both convinced entering the 2023 season they each had a team capable of winning the state golf championship.
Tuesday at Big Bend Golf Club in Tornado, WV, the longtime rivals took the first step in the process.
Sparked by a solid team effort on both sides, the Spartans and Flying Eagles claimed both Class AAA spots handed out from Region 3 for the big dance in Wheeling next week.
“That was one heck of a tournament. I told my guys when both teams play that good, you just have to shake hands,” Beckley head coach William York said. “It was a battle and I am really proud of these kids.”
Greenbrier East shot a team total of 218 to win its second regional title in as many years, slipping past Beckley by one shot.
“When we started the day, I told Jake (Honaker) and Isaac (Hutchison) I wanted two-over today from them,” Greenbrier East head coach Doug Bicksler said. “I told Isaac Cantrell and Nate (Dolin) that I wanted 12 and 14 over from them, respectively. That is where I thought we needed to be and everyone met or exceeded their number.”
Coming off a tough day at the Coalfield Conference Tournament last week, Bicksler was convinced his team would bounce back at the regional tournament.
“I think our performance at the Coalfield Conference Tournament may have been the best thing that happened to us,” Bicksler said. “I feel like it woke everybody up. They all came back with the mindset that this isn’t us and this isn’t how we play.”
Freshman phenom Isaac Hutchison led Greenbrier East shooting 33 on each nine holes Tuesday. His five-under par round of 66 tied Johan Willson from Beckley for low medalist honors on the day.
“It blew me away that Isaac could go that low. He actually had it to six-under two different times,” Bicksler said. “He bogeyed twice and went back to four (under) then he got it back up to six before he bogeyed 18 to get it back to five. He played phenomenal. He is so poised and stays in the moment really well.”
Jake Honaker was also in red figures on the par-71 layout shooting 69 for the Spartans, while Isaac Cantrell carded an 83 to round out the team total.
“For two (team) scores to be below 220 on any course is just super strong,” Bicksler said. “I would guess throughout the regionals across the state, you won’ find that. It just shows that the Beckley kids came to play as well. It’s unbelievable.”
Willson won the overall low medalist honors at the Coalfield Conference Tournament and carried that momentum into regional play.
The Flying Eagle standout made seven birdies on the day against just two bogeys in his final regional appearance as a high school player.
“I lipped-out for two birdies on the first three holes and rolled in a longer one. After that I thought it was going to be good one,” Willson said about his round.
Fellow senior Ian Thompson shined with arguably the best round of his career under the pressure packed conditions. Thompson finished with 74 on the day and freshman Tyler Stover had a 79 in his first postseason appearance.
“Ian played very well. I was very proud of his play today. He was consistent all day long,” York said. “Tyler was playing with the No. 2 players and he played right with them all day. He really did a good job. The whole team did.”
While Willson was thrilled with his day, it was his team he chose to talk about first.
“I am really proud of the team. It was really close throughout the day. Ian played really well and we played really well as a team,” Willson said. “Making the state tournament was one of our biggest goals. Today was the first step and now it is on to the next step.”
The two individual qualifiers from AAA Region 3 this year were Jayce Feazelle from St. Albans with a 68 and Lee Willard from George Washington with a 73.
The state tournament will be played Oct. 3-4 at Oglebay Park on the Speidel Course in Wheeling.
Team Scores
Greenbrier East 218, Beckley 219, George Washington 234, Princeton 249, Capital 251, St. Albans 265, Riverside 265, Oak Hill 272.
