With temperatures hitting 80 degrees and humidity making it feel hotter than that, The Greenbrier saw 120 players tee off on the Meadows Course during Round One of the 105th WV Amateur Championship, presented by Astorg Motor Company and Mercedes-Benz of Charleston, sponsored by United Bank and conducted by the West Virginia Golf Association (WVGA). Although the first round wasn’t completed because of stormy weather, former champion Christian Brand of Scott Depot topped the first day’s leader board with a six under par 64. Round one will be completed Sunday morning and round two will tee off on time, according to WVGA Executive Director Chris Slack.
Following Ryan Bilby of Follansbee in second at four under par 66, the next 17 players were within five strokes of each other. Players tied for third at two under par 68 were former champions Philip Reale of Hurricane and Brian Anania of Scott Depot. Nine players tied for fifth at one under par 69, including Matthew Aman and Woody Woodward of Bridgeport, Tad Tomblin of Alum Creek, Tommy Evans of Charles Town, Mitch Hoffman of Hurricane, Christian Casingal of Morgantown, Seth Kinker of Huntington, Bryson Beaver of Elkview and Owen Elliott of Hedgesville.
Birdies and eagles were popular on the first day with Brand scoring seven birdies, Beaver and Bilby scoring six birdies each and Elliott and Hoffman each scoring five birdies and an eagle.
“Astorg Auto is proud to thank Mercedes-Benz and United Bank for their continued participation and support of the growth of golf in West Virginia through the 105th West Virginia Amateur Golf Championship at The Greenbrier Resort,” said Astorg Auto General Manager Tyler Astorg.
“I believe whoever handles the changing course conditions the best over the next four days will be the champion,” said The Greenbrier’s Head Golf Professional Hill Herrick. “We’ll see a somewhat wet Meadows Course on Sunday due to 3½” of rain yesterday, a dryer Old White on Monday, looks like rain again for Meadows on Tuesday and dryer again for Old White on Wednesday. The temperature also drops each day, and it will be windy for the final two rounds.”
Over 400 golfers from West Virginia competed to qualify for 120 spots in this year’s Amateur Championship during seven events, including defending champion Cameron Jarvis (2023) and past champions Noah Mullens (2022), Philip Reale (2021), Brian Anania (2014), Pat Carter (1995-2004, 2006, 2012) and Christian Brand (2011).
The opening round concluded with a player dinner and reception at The Schoolhouse Hotel sponsored by United Bank.
The 105th West Virginia Amateur will continue through May 29th at The Greenbrier, which has hosted the event 97 of the past 105 years, with the first tee time at 8:00 a.m. Monday on the Old White Course.
Click here for today’s leaderboard. Be sure to follow live scoring at wvga.org as well as on all WVGA social media channels.