Knight golfer, Nathan Kemp, drives towards the Club House at Sistersville Country Club

The 2013 West Virginia High School Golf season is quickly coming to an end for this year with local teams doing their best to extend their season at Regionals on Monday.

Last week the Tyler Consolidated Silver Knight team played twice, once in the large LKC tournament and again at their own home course for the last home match of the year. On Sept. 23 the Knights traveled to the Par 36/36 – 72, Mingo Bottom Golf Course in Wirt County to participate in the LKC tournament. Up against some very keen competition and a tough course, the Consolidated golfers found themselves struggling at times, but finished the day respectably.

Roane County took the LKC championship with a team score of 297 on the day, followed by Ritchie in second with 334; Williamstown scored 342; St. Marys, 346; Parkersburg Catholic, 351; Gilmer County, 354; Wirt County, 381; Ravenswood, 400; Webster, 410; Tyler Consolidated, 444; Braxton, 460; and South Harrison, 491.

Scoring individually for the Silver and Black were: Nathan Kemp with a score of 102; John Lancaster, 110; Ty Pratt, 115; Sean Camerlin, 117; and Adam Cooper, 119.

“Every one of our players had a rough day at LKC,” said Knight head coach, Joe Griffith. “I would not have expected all of them to score over 100, but there were a lot of high scores across the field that day. The group of players I monitored was made up of number one players from other schools, and among the four of them, there were only three birdies all day, so the course was playing tough.”

“Our team had played the course early in the season at the LKC Scramble, but I am sure that if our players were more familiar with the course their scores would have been lower. It is just hard for us to schedule more matches at Mingo since it is almost an hour and a half away. By the time we play the schools in our area-up and down the river from Weirton to Parkersburg, plus going over to Ohio to play a match in Monroe County, our schedule is full.”

The golf team finished up the 2013 regular season with their annual “Parents Night” match at their home course, the Sistersville Country Club on Sept. 25. Inviting teams, parents, families and friends from Magnolia and Paden City as well, it was a good evening for golf fellowship.

The Magnolia team placed first in the team play among the three competitors, with an overall score of 173. Tyler Consolidated placed second with 192; and Paden City scored 232.

Kemp again led all scorers for the home team, turning in a 39 on the day. Pratt scored 45; Camerlin, 54; Cooper, 54; Lancaster, 55 and Kyle Eastham scored 56.

For Paden City, Kennedy Cain led the Green and White with a score of 56, followed by Levi Meadows with 58; Jacob Pierce, 59; Aaron Heasley, 59; Dean Frye, 60; and Jeremy Mercer, 64.

Tyler Consolidated and Paden City junior varsity teams also hit the links, turning in the following scores: Knights – Alex VanCamp, 60; Kellsi Anderson, 60; Isaac Michael, 62; and Levi Hudson, 62; Wildcats – Michael

“On Wednesday, it was nice to be back home for our final regular season match-Parents’ Night,” coach Griffith said. “Most matches throughout the season have very few or no parents in attendance, but it is nice that most of the parents are able to come to this final match. We have a nice covered dish dinner for all three local teams. It’s a great way to finish off the season.”

“Our score on Parents’ Night was the lowest home score this season, so that was a nice way to end things. Nathan Kemp had a nice round of 39, while several of the other players also had their lowest rounds of the season. Seniors Kyle Eastham, Isaac Michael and Alex VanCamp finished their high school golf careers that evening.”

Player’s commenting on their play for the week included Lancaster, Camerlin and Cooper.

“My drives were what hurt me the most at LKC, but after Tuesday’s practice, my drives were a lot better at Parents’ Night,” Lancaster said.

“At Parents’ Night I did not do the best, but I enjoyed the match and the food afterward,” Camerlin added. And Cooper said, “The LKC wasn’t exactly what I expected but I did a little better on Parents’Night. My game definitely still could have been better.”

On Monday both Tyler Consolidated and Paden City competed in the Regional Golf Tournament at Williams Country Club (with results to be in next weeks Tyler Star News).

“Two teams and two individuals advance out of Monday’s regional action to the state tournament,” said coach Griffith. “Of the nine teams competing, I would think that Weirton Madonna on their home course would have the inside edge to win and go on to the state tournament. Wheeling Central is playing tough, as is St. Marys, so the other team will probably be one of those two.”

Also competing will be Magnolia, Trinity, Bishop Donahue, Clay-Batelle, Paden City and Tyler Consolidated.

The Silver Knights wound up the regular season with a 24-55 win/loss record.