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Bilby Rallies For Medalist Honors

Wheeling Park claims team event at Highland Springs

Photo by Cody Tomer Brooke’s Ryan Bilby delivers a birdie putt on the ninth hole to win medalist honors during Monday’s match at Highland Springs.

WELLSBURG–Brooke’s Ryan Bilby has never birdied the ninth hole at the Highland Springs Golf Course during a match.

He needed to break that trend on Monday as he entered the Par-4 ninth trailing by two shots.

The sophomore all-state golfer did just that as he rallied to shoot a 3-over par 38 and secured match medalist honors.

Steubenville’s Paul Mastros took second with a 39 and Wheeling Park’s Noah Seivertson and James Salvatori tied for third with cards of 40.

The Park duo, along with Dorothy Romanek (47) and Lydia Simon (49) led the Patriots to a team victory and a score of 175. Steubenville was next with a 189 and Brooke finished with a 207.

It wasn’t a strong start for Bilby after he bogeyed the first two holes to fall behind but his final shot of the evening is the one that mattered the most.

“I hit the ball really bad (Monday),” Bilby said. “It was probably one of my worst rounds of the year but then I ended up birdieing the hardest one on the course.

“You have to rip a drive on nine to get up on top of the hill and I didn’t do it. I was on the slope but I hit a six-iron to get it around six feet away and made the putt.”

Brooke coach Ron Ujcich couldn’t remember the last time he has even witnessed a player collecting a birdie on the challenging ninth hole.

“That’s a No. 1 handicap,” Ujcich said. “I’ve been here for 10 years and I can honestly say that I have probably seen a handful to half-a-dozen birdies on that hole during a match. It’s just not a hole you birdie.

“We play it for par and even if we bogey it, we are not ashamed when we walk off that hole.

“To finish with a birdie to get medalist honors is an accomplishment in itself.”

Mastros entered the final stretch leading Seivertson by one shot but both turned in double bogeys to give Bilby the opportunity to comeback.

“I didn’t think I had a chance but I ended up getting the win,” Bilby said.

Despite the difficult final hole, Seivertson strung together a solid round that included a birdie on the par-5 sixth hole as he ended the match deadlocked with Salvatori on a day where they were both counted on to step up their game.

“Our No. 2 didn’t make it (Monday),” Park coach Don Headley said. “He was a little under the weather but our No. 1 and No. 2 guys came through.

“Noah played with Bilby and Mastros. His ball striking has become much better this year and James also played well for us.

“Dorothy and Lydia struggled a little bit but they played from the white tees and that’s a long tee for them.”

Micah Krause signed a card of 46, Isaac Krause provided a 50 and Carlo Biasi added a 54 for Big Red, while Alex Jezierski generated a 52 in his first career varsity match for the Bruins.

Cole Craft (53) and Alexis Spensky (64) rounded out the Brooke scorecard.

Linsly 171, Roane County172, Ritchie County 185, Tyler Consolidated 227, Paden City 244

SISTERSVILLE — Ryan Dembiczak turned in a 40 as he led Linsly to a victory at Sistersville Country Club. Holden Farnsworth was also solid for the Cadets shooting a 41.Geno Bisbocci shot a 44 and Dylan Dunlevy and Aiden Grubler both tallied 46 for the Cadets.

Tyler Consolidated was led by Isaac Melvin (55) while Jordan Stackpole had a team-low 54 for Paden City.

Harrison Central 340, St. Marys 397, Indian Creek 407, John Marshall 435

WHEELING — Harrison Central’s Samuel Santille shot an 82 to earn medalist honors and lead Harrison Central to a victory in a four-team field at the Jones Course. Cameron McIntosh secured an 84 for the Huskies while Cruz Capers (86) and Nick Coffland rounded out the scoring.

Josh Spencer shot a 92 for Indian Creek while Matthew Douglas turned in a 95 to lead the way for John Marshall.

St. Clairsville 165, Magnolia 183, Martins Ferry 222, Union Local 235, River 279

BELMONT — Brendan Vucelich turned in a 38 to lead the way for St. Clairsville as it soared to victory in a five-team field at Belmont Hills Country Club. Jacob Jeffries shot a 39 for the Red Devils while Broc Crist (43) and Saul Crist rounded out the scoring.

Trey Blain hit a solid 39 for Magnolia while Luke Krol turned in a 40 for Martins Ferry. Union Local was guided by Aiden Shugert (45) and Logan Alleman had a team-low 49 for River.

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