Golfers look toward Regionals
The varsity golfers at Tyler Consolidated are winding up the ’09 season and are looking ahead to Regional play. Last week, the team played in two matches, though unable to pocket a team win, individual team members were able to lower their scores and gain experience for next year.
At the Sistersville Country Club on Sept. 22, the team celebrated their year by inviting parents and fans to the Club House for an end-of-season Parents’ Night feed. On the course, the Knights faced off with Magnolia and Paden City. The Blue Eagles scored a team score of 171 to take the win, followed by Tyler Consolidated with 180 and Paden City’s team score of 220.
Dalton Wells was the low man for the Silver Knights on the day, turning in a score of 42. Swayde Carpenter scored 45; Chelsa Thomas, 46; Ethan Garrison, 47; Levi Kissner, 47; Tyler Lemasters, 48; and Brice Kehrer, 58.
“This match was our Parents’ Night match,” said head coach of the Knights, Joe Griffith.
“We finish off the year with the other two local teams, and then have a covered dish dinner with all three teams. It’s a great way to end the season.”
“Magnolia got the best of us this year, even though we equaled our lowest score this season at home. We were hoping to come in under 178, which was our best home score last year.”
“Lots of parents from all three teams provided the players with the only real gallery that they have throughout the season,” Griffith continued.
“This year’s team is improving, as shown by the fact that we had six scores in the 40’s. So a goal for our first home match next year would be to have six scores under 45.”
“Dalton Wells was low man, and Swayde Carpenter brought his score back closer to where he should be. Chelsa Wells is the only girl on our team, and this was a good night for her. With a round of 46, it was the first time that her score counted among the four top players. She has progressed remarkably in the past year and we look for her to continue to refine her game.”
“Ethan Garrison, Levi Kissner and Tyler Lemasters all three carded scores in the upper 40’s. Brice Kehrer is a better golfer than his score of 58 showed.”
Said Thomas of her low 46, “I had the best score I’ve ever had in the three years I’ve been playing! I feel very confident for next year.”
Wells, the number one golfer for the Knights said, “My golf game has been getting better and so has our team. I am looking forward to Regionals at Parkersburg.”
“Definitely not my best,” said Kehrer. “But it was a fun Parents’ Night.”
On Sept. 26 the Consolidated team played at the Woodridge Plantation Golf Course in Mineral Wells, at the LKC tournament. Thirteen teams participated in the tournament with the Silver Knights finishing eighth in the line-up when all was said and done.
The Ritchie County team took the overall win with a team score of 315 on the day. Williamstown followed with 324; Gilmer, 327; St. Marys, 328; Parkersburg Catholic, 332; Wirt, 352; Braxton, 374; Tyler Consolidated, 384; Clay County, 392; Ravenswood, 395; South Harrison, 396; and Roane County, 433.
Individually for the Silver and Black, Wells scored 45/43 for a total of 88 in the tournament. Lemasters had 50/44 for a total of 94; Garrison, 46/51 for 97; Carpenter, 52/53 for 105; Nate Bolin, 51/62 for 113.
“Going in we knew that there were four or five tough teams that would be in the hunt for first place,” the coach said.
“Out of the 12 teams, our eighth place score was a good finish for the team we have this year. The players had all played the course before and I think that most of them played smart golf this time around.”
“The course has a lot of variety, with uphill and downhill holes, along with lots of hillocks along the fairways that require shots to be hit from above or below the feet.”
“Ritchie took the trophy and they should do well in our class AA Regional tournament. The next five top teams (at this tournament) will all be competing against each other in the class A tournament, so the competition there will be tough.”
Looking ahead to Regional play, the coach said, “There are eight teams in our AA Regional at Parkersburg Country Club on Sept. 29. Ritchie certain ly has the edge going in as the team to take first place and go on to the state tournament.”
“Although we’ve beaten both Ravenswood and Roane, the teams from Oak Glen, Weir and Magnolia all have beaten us.”
“But if we play our best, we could perhaps finish ahead of some of them. Point Pleasant is the final team in the region, and they may also be tough to beat. So we should finish somewhere in the middle of the field.”
The Knights finish the regular season with a record of 18-61-1.
The West Virginia State High School Golf Tournament will be held on Oct. 6-7 at the Speidel Jones Golf Course at Oglebay Park in Wheeling. The top two teams from each Regional will be eligible to compete at the State Tournament.