Throw in a little wind, along with some wet conditions and the golf course at Grandview Country Club can get a bit tricky.
Westside sophomore standout Kerri-Anne Cook was not the least bit fooled Thursday.
Cook started fast and finished strong to help lead the Renegades to a tri-match win over Woodrow Wilson and Shady Spring.
“We finished strong today. A three-under and a one-under score on nine holes is pretty dang good,” Westside head coach Jeremy Warrix said. “I don’t think we are where we need to be yet, but coming into today, playing this course for the first time this year, I am happy with our performance.”
Joining Cook to form Westside’s team total of 115 was Tanner Walls with a one-under par 35 and Owen Hamon with a 47.
Woodrow Wilson finished second at 118 and Shady Spring ended with a score of 129.
Coming off a red-hot summer where she won the 2021 West Virginia Jr. Amateur and was named Player of the Year on the Callaway Jr. Tour, Cook got things off to a quick start on her opening tee ball at the par-4 first hole.
“I started off with an eagle on No. 1,” Cook said. “I drove the green on my tee shot and then ended up making the putt.”
The only slip in her round came on the par-5 fourth hole where Cook made a bogey.
Undaunted by the stumbl,e Cook responded with pars at the difficult fifth and sixth hole before she started firing darts on the final three holes.
On the par-3 seventh hole, Cook hit her tee shot just over five-feet from the pin and rolled the putt in for a birdie.
After a par on No. 8, Cook took dead aim at the 160-yard par-3 ninth hole. Sticking her tee shot inside ten feet, Cook drained the putt for her third two in just nine holes.
“I have really been working on my approach shots and my short game. My approach shots into the greens were pretty good today and I was hitting it pretty good off the tee,” Cook said.
Playing in the group in front of Cook, Walls was playing steady in the windy conditions.
“I started out with a birdie, after that I just tried to hold my round together and make some pars,” Walls said. “Not all of my putts were rolling great today. I just tried to get the ball up on the greens and get it in for par.”
Walls would give one back with a bogey on No. 3, but the 2021 Player of the Year on the Blue Ridge Tour did not get flustered. Walls answered back with a birdie at No.4 and followed with five straight pars for his one-under par round of 35.
Zan Hill led Woodrow Wilson with a round of 38, while Jonah Wilson and Tucker Lambert both shot 40 for the Flying Eagles.
“There was a lot of wind out there, but I drove it drove it really well today. I just struggled inside 100 yards,” Hill said. “I just need to brush up on some things where we haven’t been able to practice much with the rain. I have been playing really well so far this season.”
Shady Spring was led by Tanner Vest with 40, Hayden Wood shot 43 and Zach Smith had a 45.
Playing on the course where the Class AA regional will be held in just over three weeks, Warrix was happy to see his team perform so well.
“We took a little rest the week before last because I think everybody was getting a little tired,” Warrix said. “Especially with Kerri-Ann and Tanner coming off the summers they had and playing so much. I think it helped them out not having to play tournaments and such for a little while.”
Next up for Westside will be a Wednesday home match at Clear Fork Valley Golf Course. The day before that match, Cook will compete at the Girls State Tournament at Mingo Botton Golf Club in Elizabeth, W.Va.
Woodrow Wilson plays next on Sept. 13 at Glade Springs, while Shady Spring will host a match at Glade Springs on Sept. 10.
