The mission for the Shady Spring golf team was simple Monday during the Class AA Region 3 golf tournament played at Grandview Country Club.
Leave no doubt.
Entering the tournament as a huge favorite, the Tigers grabbed their third straight regional title in grand fashion with a 34-stroke win over runner-up Nicholas County.
The Tigers and the Grizzlies both earn a spot in the AA State Golf Tournament, Oct. 8-9 at Oglebay Park in Wheeling.
“We couldn’t get caught looking too far ahead and I was a little afraid that we might,” Shady Spring head coach Greg Daniel said. “The kids came out today and played it one shot and one hole at a time. They did a good job with that. We had two 73’s and two 75’s and both of the kids that made 75 had a bad double (bogey). We could have had four 73’s, but you will always have that.”
Juniors Tyler Beard and Cooper Ward both shot 73 to help lead the Tigers to their sixth straight trip to the state tournament.
“I played the front nine really good. I started off with a birdie and I was really confident,” Beard said. “The last couple of holes (on the front nine) I had a couple of bad lies that I couldn’t get away from. It was hard going into the back nine with a couple of bogeys. I got up to two-over (par), but I was able to come in pretty strong with a birdie on 16, then a par on 17 and 18.”
Making birdies was not quite as hard for Ward Monday, but his good work was quickly offset with miscues.
“It was a pretty solid round today and I was happy with it,” Ward said. “It seemed like every time I would get a birdie, then I would make a bogey. I putted really good today, but I just made too many bogeys for sure. It was pretty annoying making those bogeys.”
Senior Jack Williams shot 75, but finished strong with eight consecutive pars. After making a bogey on his 10th hole of the round, the basketball all-stater told himself there was going to be no more bogeys.
“I started out really solid and I was one-under after (the first three holes). I bogeyed hole No. 7 and had a bad ninth hole before I bogeyed No. 12,” Williams said. “With basketball, you learn the game is never over. You look at the state championship game, we were down 10 at the end of the first quarter. There is a lot of game left.”
Freshman Grant Winkler played well in his first high school regional event and matched Williams with a 75.
“A couple of missed putts today and a couple of missed greens, but I got it up and down (for par). I was pretty happy,” Winkler said. “I had a double and three bogeys, but I just had two birdies. I birdied one and ten, but I double bogeyed 16. Just a bad strike and a bad swing, but that happens.”
Beard and Ward went to a sudden-death playoff to decide the low medalist honors, with Beard taking the title with a birdie on the second playoff hole.
“I just have to thank my friends, family, coaches, everything. I have a great group of guys around me that are fun to play with and pushing me. We are all getting better and it has been a lot of fun,” Beard said. “Cooper and I have been battling each other since we were 10 and it has always been a lot of fun. I knew we were going to tie today. He beat me a couple of days ago. It is always back and forth.”
Nicholas County head coach Tom McGirl knew knocking off the Tigers was going to be a tall task, but was satisfied with his team who now heads to Wheeling for the second year in a row.
The Grizzlies were led by Maddex Smallwood who fired a solid round of 76.
“Maddex shot a real good number today, so that gave us a little bit of cushion. Then we just had to wait for the numbers,” McGirl said. “The kids have practiced really hard and they have put a lot into it. I am really happy for them. It is a tough challenge to come to Raleigh County and knock off Shady who may be the favorite in double-A. Their kids played great, but we are happy to be the second team.”
The two lowest individual scores outside of the two winning teams also qualified Monday for the state tournament. Hunter Moore from Independence shot 78 and Josh Lafferty from Liberty carded an 84 to punch their tickets to Oglebay Park.
“I felt like I had a great round today. One of the best I had shot all year. I was hitting every green in two and was putting really great,” Moore said. “It was a little hard and wet today, but I powered through it. I am so excited that I am shaking.”
Lafferty was also a bit overtaken by the accomplishment after the grinding day.
“I am so excited. My heart is really beating,” Lafferty said. “I thought I didn’t play great today. It was a very mediocre round. I just tried to play aggressive in the short game and it worked out. The last two or three weeks I have been hitting the ball the best I have hit this year.”
The All-Tournament team included Beard, Ward, Williams and Winkler along with Smallwood Moore and Lafferty. They were joined by Alex Brunty from Westside and London Palmer from PikeView.
