Ian Patrick Archer & Mason Williams Claim 2017 WV Four-Ball Championship

Ian Patrick Archer is no stranger to WVGA State Championships as he entered the 38^th WV Four-Ball Championship looking to compete in his 22^nd state championship. His partner, 17 year old, Mason Williams may be young but he is no stranger either as Williams boasts a decorated junior career which includes two state titles in 2017 already (WV Junior Match Play, WV Junior Amateur). Combined the two teamed up to be the best Four-Ball team in the state this weekend as they claimed the 38^th WV Four-Ball Championship which concluded at Edgewood Country Club today. As a few small showers impeded play on yesterday’s opening round it was a picture perfect day for the final round as temperatures were mild and there was very little wind to contend with.

Archer and Williams who opened up yesterday with a round of 63 at Berry Hills faulted right out of the gate this morning at Edgewood. A unsightly bogey on the opening hole shook the team early but they wasted no time in correcting it as Archer made a birdie on the par-3 second. The team then added two more birdies on the opening nine and turned at nine under-par for the tournament. Birdies on ten and thirteen got the team to eleven under-par and from there it was just a game of holding onto the lead. The difficult seventeenth almost proved troublesome as the team had to work to save par but they did and were able to close out the victory with a par on the 18^th. Finishing just one shot behind the victors were the teams of Chad Baldwin/Brian Anania and Pat Carter/Jim Grimmett. Baldwin and Anania found themselves paired in the final group with Archer and Williams and it was close all day as they found themselves just one back after the opening nine. A birdie on the tenth kept them close to the lead but unfortunately the team made a bogey on the long par-4 fifteenth which put them one back of the eventual winners. Coming from behind to contend for the win was Pat Carter and Jim Grimmett who posted the low round of the day of 64. The team was on fire all day carding four birdies on their front nine and posted three more on the back. The only blemish on the card came on the par-4 seventeenth when the team was unable to make their par putts.

Today’s victory was Ian Patrick Archer’s first state championship title and Williams 4^th. For more information on the WV Four-Ball please visit us online at www.wvga.org and see results below.