The first state championship of the 2017 West Virginia Golf Association tournament season began today from the challenging Woodhaven Course at the Resort at Glade Springs. The Woodhaven Course, with its sprawling, uneven layout through the wooded terrain of Southern West Virginia, played as tough as advertised with many players struggling to find their rhythm. The saving grace of the day for the full field of 100+ players was the warm weather and relatively mild winds helping to promote scoring opportunities.
The story of the day was the team of Pat Carter & Sam O’Dell who got their round started with a blistering 9-under thru their first 6 holes. The duo started Eagle – Birdie – Eagle – Birdie – Eagle – Birdie to storm out of the gates, with the first eagle coming via a hole-out from Sam O’Dell. The two posted an opening round 60 to lead the Championship Division at 12-under par. Followed only three shots behind are two teams. The team of Tad Tomblin & Jim Grimmett and Michael Foust & Drew Whitten both at 9-under. The defending champions of the WV 2-Person Scramble, Phil Reale II & Jess Ferrell, lurk only four shots behind at 8-under.
In the Senior Division, the home town team of Ed McCall & Joel Davis lead the way at 9-under, but within striking distance is the capable team of Van Stemple & Tim Mount at 7-under. Finally, in the Women’s Division, Nicolle Flood-Sawczyszyn & Shelley Hyde fired a strong 4-under, 68, to open a 5-shot lead on the next closest team in the division.
The second and final round of the 2017 WV 2-Person Scramble will take place tomorrow on what is sure to be an exciting Sunday of golf. For more information, please visit wvga.org and follow the WVGA on its various social media profiles for live updates, videos, and scoring.
