Gallery by Heather Belcher
Wheeling – Westside senior Kerri-Anne Cook is on the verge of closing out a decorated career in style.
On a day where high scores were the norm, Cook fired a 74 to take a two-shot lead into Wednesday’s final round of the golf state championship at the Oglebay Resort in Wheeling.
Stephen McDavid from Winfield is in second place, followed by teammate Andrew Johnson and Caleb Young from Fairmont Senior who are four shots back of the leader.
Cook offset two bogeys on the front nine holes with a birdie before battling a roller-coaster ride on the back nine that included four more bogeys and a double bogey. Never letting the moment get to her, Cook did record a pair of birdies to secure the best round in Class AA.
Powered by McDavid and Johnson, the Generals hold a 13-shot lead over Fairmont Senior in the AA team race. Shady Spring is in third place, 24 shots back of Winfield and 11 behind the Polar Bears.
Tyler Beard is tied for eighth place to lead the Tigers and Jack Williams is tied for 12th. Cooper Ward from Shady and Camden Deeb from Bluefield are tied for 18th.
Maddox Smallwood and Cole Brown from Nicholas County are also inside the top-25, tied for 24th place.
The Bobcats are four shots back of defending Class A state champion Wheeling Central Catholic.
Xavier Honaker leads Summers County in eighth place while twin brothers Sean and Brian Cooper are in a four-way tie for 11th place.
Rocky Frye from Montcalm sits in fifth place only three shots back of second place and eight shots off the lead held by Wahama’s Grant Roush.
Beckley and Greenbrier East will have some serious ground to make up Wednesday. The Flying Eagles trail Washington by 24 shots, while East is 30 shots back of the AAA lead.
The Patriots hold a one-shot lead over Hurricane and a five-shot advantage over Cabell Midland.
Tommy Evans from Washington is the individual leader at even par, two shots ahead of Savannah Hawkins from Hurricane. Cabell Midland’s Jack Michael, the reigning W.Va. Jr. Am title holder on the boys side, is three shots back.
Flying Eagles standout Jonah Willson along with Jake Honaker for the Spartans are tied for ninth place, eight shots behind Evans.
The final round on the Speidel Course tees off at 8:30 a.m.
