Warrior golf advances to state tournament

The Pocahontas County High School Warriors golf team won their regional championship match at Raven Golf Course on Monday afternoon and will represent Pocahontas County at the state tournament in Wheeling starting on Monday afternoon.

Led by sophomore sensation Brandon Wilfong, the Warriors edged out second-place finisher Notre Dame by just one stroke. Wilfong was the lowball medalist with an outstanding score of 72 over 18 holes. Wilfong’s score was 14 strokes better than the next closest competitor in the match.

During regional and state tournament play, only the top three scores are counted for the team score. For PCHS, senior Stephen Mick shot a 95 and junior Matt Rao shot a 103, giving the Warriors a team score of 270.

Notre Dame sophomore Austin Wilson led the Fighting irish with an 87; senior Jordan Brown knocked in a 92 and sophomore Tyler Mehr also shot a 92 to make the final tally 271 for the Irish.

Tygarts Valley finished third at the regional match with an overall score of 283.

PCHS Coach Phillip Anderson said Wilfong’s performance was remarkable.

“Realistically, Brandon Wilfong, if his game stays where it is, he has a chance of scoring lowball medalist at states, as a sophomore, said Anderson. “The Snowshoe course is just as difficult as the course that we’re going to play at the state tournament.”

Anderson said his other golfers had an off day at regionals, but that their slump was very unlikely to continue in Wheeling.

“They weren’t playing terrible,” he said. “They were playing average. But they hung in there and they didn’t quit.”

As the number one and number two finishers at regionals, both PCHS and Notre Dame advance to the state tournament at Oglebay Park in Wheeling. The Warriors will depart Sunday night, play a practice round on Monday, and shoot for score on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“It’s a mental and physical game,” said Anderson. “We’re going to go up there and have a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of work. It wears you out.”