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Warren wins Washington County golf championship; Waterford’s Jordan Welch medals

BELPRE – Jordan Welch thought that his second shot on the 16th hole at Oxbox Golf Course was going to fall short of the green.

Instead the ball kept rolling, rolling, right into the cup for about a 100-yard eagle on the par 4, 364-yard hole.

“I’ll take it,” said the Waterford High senior linkster at the conclusion of the season-opening Washington County Championship golf tournament Friday.

Welch finished with a medalist score of 71, 38 on the front and 33 on the back. He said he used a “52-degree” club on the eagle.

“I never usually play very good here at Oxbow,” said Welch, who had an 83 in last year’s WC tourney. “But it’s been a good day.

“I had a great group. It was pretty fun playing with Nick (Ward). We all had fun out there.”

Ward, a state qualifier last fall, carded a 77 to help Warren High repeat as county champs. The junior standout shot a 38 on the front and a 39 on the back.

“I really didn’t finish strong,” Ward said. “I had three doubles on the back nine, but that’s all right. It’s the first match of the season. I’ve got a lot of work to do.

“I just had a couple of bad breaks on the backside.”

First-place Warren had 318 total points, while runner-up Marietta High was 15 strokes behind with 333. Rounding out the field were Waterford (359), Fort Frye (385), and Belpre High (452).

Sharing team-scoring honors with Ward was senior Kyler Dennis. Senior Max Hapney finished with a 78.

“We have a veteran group,” said ninth-year Warren head golf coach Nathan Evans. “I told them today that I really didn’t care what they shot as long as they stayed patient and worked on their attitude. I was happy with the result today.”

Evans paused.

“This is always a great way to start the season,” the Warriors boss continued. “We’ve been doing this for a long time, starting the season with the Washington County Championship. It’s good to see all the schools come together and play.

“We had a great day today weather-wise, except for a little bit of rain there at the end. All the kids played well.”

MHS first-year golf coach Chad Deem agreed, and added, “I’m very proud of my team. I thought they competed very well.”

Caleb Scharff led the Tigers with a 75. Heath Hill added an 84, and Lake Satterfield, an 85. Satterfield played in the same group as Welch and Ward.

“Caleb shot a 75, and he was one over par going into the last hole when the rain started,” Deem said. “He tripled the last hole, so he could’ve shot a 72 really easy.”

Brandyn Offenberger said that “it takes a lot of patience” to play golf while it’s raining.

“You have to take your swing serious and make sure your grip stays positive through the swing,” continued the first-year Waterford head golf coach. “Mentally, you have to stay physical through the shot. Don’t let it be a distraction and fight through it.”

Offenberger gave his protg Welch a lot of credit for coming back after opening up with a 38 on the first nine holes.

“On a couple of holes on the front nine, he was getting down on himself,” Offenberger said. “He just had to get him back up and keep going. And, he kept fighting like he’s supposed to, and he got a 71. That’s pretty good.”

Getting a late eagle certainly helped Welch’s cause.

“That’s my second one,” Welch said. “I had one last year over at Wahama.”

Evans was impressed with Welch’s score on the back nine.

“I thought that someone shooting in the mid-70s today would earn medalist honors,” the Warren coach said. “But then I saw his scorecard, and what a great back nine he had. That’s a great score.”

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