The Class A state golf championship trophy will reside in Pleasants County for another year. St. Marys pulled away on the second day of the state tournament this week to win the title for the second year in a row. The St. Marys Blue Devils finished the opening day of the West Virginia state tournament at Oglebay Resort’s Jones Course with a six stroke, 258-264, lead over second place Williamstown.
The Yellow Jackets had finished behind St. Marys a week earlier at the Class A, Region I tournament to earn their spot in the state championship match. They were the favorites going into the state tournament to vie for the championship trophy. Blue Devil Brandon Lawhon shot an opening round 83 and teammate Grant Barnhart finished with an 84 to complete the first 18 holes in fourth and fifth, respectively. Brayden Hall’s 91 also counted for the Blue Devils as teams can play four at the regionals and state with the top three scores counting. Ethan Bennett was the Blue Devils’ No. 4 man with a score of 106.
Parkersburg Catholic’s Blake Lewis finished his opening round in second place after shooting 81 and was two strokes behind current Class A leader Justin Doerr of Wheeling Central. Lewis would rebound on day two and claim medalist honors with a 76 for a 157 total. Doerr came in second with a final tally of 163. He shot an 84 on day two.