Mustangs crowned SHL golf champions
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
MANCHESTER — The run of multiple Southern Hills League golf championships by the West Union Dragons was put to a stop on Thursday as they Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs overtook the Dragons on day three and held the advantage on day four at Hilltop Golf Course to gain the league title by a single stroke.
The Mustangs totaled 696 points in the four-day event with a day four score of 178, preceded by scores of 181, 157 and 180. Second place was West Union (697) with four-day totals of 180, 159, 183 and 175 as they had the day-four low score.
"I am very proud of this team … we were able to hold off West Union by one stroke and claim what is believed to be Lynchburg-Clay's first-ever Southern Hills League title in golf," LC coach Shawn McLaughlin said. "I was lucky enough to be able to go seven golfers deep this year, with all seven of them contributing in the league tournament."
For the season, LC stands at 37-7 overall.
North Adams placed third at 715, finishing with a fourth-round score of 188. Their previous team scores were 178, 151 and 198.
The Whiteoak Wildcats held onto their fourth-place spot with a 747 score, and in fifth was Ripley at 748. Rounding out the standings were Eastern Brown (777), Peebles (788) and Fairfield (863).
As for the newly crowned league champion Mustangs, their individual scores at the course in Manchester on Thursday were: Zach Blankenship (45), Linus Stoltz (43), Tristan Wilbanks (45), Marc Blankenship (45) and Alec Smith (58).
Zach Blankenship, Marc Blankenship, Stoltz and Wilbanks earned all-league honors as they all placed in the Top 15 of the four-day overall standings. Zach Blankenship was fourth with an overall score of 171 with scores of 44, 39, 43 and 45 at Buckeye Hills, Adams County, White Oak and Hilltop Golf Courses.
Marc Blankenship totaled 180 (51, 41, 43, 45) for 13th overall, while Stoltz was seventh at 174 (44, 37, 50, 43) and Wilbanks was ninth at 175 (45, 40, 45, 45) for all-league honors.
The highest finisher for all of Highland County was Whiteoak senior Luke Taggert with a score of 170 for third place. Taggert totaled a 45 in the final round and totaled other scores of 45, 35 and 45.
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Also earning all-league honors from Highland County was Whiteoak's Nick Wardlow in 10th with a 175 score with totals of 46, 38, 44 and 48.
Winning the individual SHL title was Bobby Welch of West Union with a total low score of 149. His four day scores were 36, 33, 42 and 38. Also earning all-league honors from schools other than Highland County were: Kade Miller (WU), Hank Sparks (NA), Marshall Spencer (MHS), Tyler Brummett (MHS), Austin Williams (EB), Seth Sparks (NA), Lane Hanson (PHS) and Devin Gardner (NA).
As for the Whiteoak Wildcats on Thursday, their scores were: Taggert (45), Wardlow (48), Blake Trueblood (52), Graham Douglas (51) and Stephen Anderson (52).
FHS totals from the final round included: Zach Schuler (53), Brant Huff (50), Dustin Gebhart (75), Brad Bumgarner (68) and Spencer Boone (65).
Final Team Standings
1. Lynchburg-Clay (696)
2. West Union (697)
3. North Adams (715)
4. Whiteoak (747)
5. Ripley (748)
6. Eastern Brown (777)
7. Peebles (788)
8. Fairfield (863)
9. Manchester (N/A)
The Mustangs totaled 696 points in the four-day event with a day four score of 178, preceded by scores of 181, 157 and 180. Second place was West Union (697) with four-day totals of 180, 159, 183 and 175 as they had the day-four low score.
"I am very proud of this team … we were able to hold off West Union by one stroke and claim what is believed to be Lynchburg-Clay's first-ever Southern Hills League title in golf," LC coach Shawn McLaughlin said. "I was lucky enough to be able to go seven golfers deep this year, with all seven of them contributing in the league tournament."
For the season, LC stands at 37-7 overall.
North Adams placed third at 715, finishing with a fourth-round score of 188. Their previous team scores were 178, 151 and 198.
The Whiteoak Wildcats held onto their fourth-place spot with a 747 score, and in fifth was Ripley at 748. Rounding out the standings were Eastern Brown (777), Peebles (788) and Fairfield (863).
As for the newly crowned league champion Mustangs, their individual scores at the course in Manchester on Thursday were: Zach Blankenship (45), Linus Stoltz (43), Tristan Wilbanks (45), Marc Blankenship (45) and Alec Smith (58).
Zach Blankenship, Marc Blankenship, Stoltz and Wilbanks earned all-league honors as they all placed in the Top 15 of the four-day overall standings. Zach Blankenship was fourth with an overall score of 171 with scores of 44, 39, 43 and 45 at Buckeye Hills, Adams County, White Oak and Hilltop Golf Courses.
Marc Blankenship totaled 180 (51, 41, 43, 45) for 13th overall, while Stoltz was seventh at 174 (44, 37, 50, 43) and Wilbanks was ninth at 175 (45, 40, 45, 45) for all-league honors.
The highest finisher for all of Highland County was Whiteoak senior Luke Taggert with a score of 170 for third place. Taggert totaled a 45 in the final round and totaled other scores of 45, 35 and 45.
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Also earning all-league honors from Highland County was Whiteoak's Nick Wardlow in 10th with a 175 score with totals of 46, 38, 44 and 48.
Winning the individual SHL title was Bobby Welch of West Union with a total low score of 149. His four day scores were 36, 33, 42 and 38. Also earning all-league honors from schools other than Highland County were: Kade Miller (WU), Hank Sparks (NA), Marshall Spencer (MHS), Tyler Brummett (MHS), Austin Williams (EB), Seth Sparks (NA), Lane Hanson (PHS) and Devin Gardner (NA).
As for the Whiteoak Wildcats on Thursday, their scores were: Taggert (45), Wardlow (48), Blake Trueblood (52), Graham Douglas (51) and Stephen Anderson (52).
FHS totals from the final round included: Zach Schuler (53), Brant Huff (50), Dustin Gebhart (75), Brad Bumgarner (68) and Spencer Boone (65).
Final Team Standings
1. Lynchburg-Clay (696)
2. West Union (697)
3. North Adams (715)
4. Whiteoak (747)
5. Ripley (748)
6. Eastern Brown (777)
7. Peebles (788)
8. Fairfield (863)
9. Manchester (N/A)