Published: July 16, 2008 11:19 pm      

Mason’s strategy pays off

PIPESTEM — With a two-shot lead entering the final round of the West Virginia Junior Amateur and knowing his play had been pretty solid, Ryan Mason of Bridgeport didn’t want to take any unnecessary chances that would open the door for those chasing him.

“Just try not to make mistakes and play safe,” he said of his strategy.

His plan worked. He followed his 3-under 69 in the opening round with a 2-over 74 Wednesday to win the championship with a two-day total of 1-under 143 at Pipestem Resort State Park.

Carson Schambach of Glen Dale shot a 2-under 70 Wednesday to finish second at even-par 144, one stroke behind Mason. Aaron Barna of Hurricane was third overall at 146 — which was best in the 15-16 age division — while Scott Prince of Daniels finished in a four-way tie for fourth at 147 with Adam Skaff of Charleston, Clark Priddy of Nitro and Zachary Yochum of Wheeling.

Patton Couch of Logan finished at 148, while defending champion Bosten Miller of Charleston, who broke the course record at Pipestem in a Top Flite Junior Tour event that preceded last year’s Junior Amateur, was another stroke back at 149.

Mason had only two three-putts in the tournament.

“Mainly, putting is the key out here,” he said.

With his victory, Mason, a 2008 Bridgeport High School graduate who will play golf at the University of Akron, earned a spot in the West Virginia Amateur next month at The Greenbrier.

He had been scheduled to play in an Amateur qualifier July 28 at Bridgeport Country Club.

Mason, who also plays in American Junior Golf Association events, finished second in the 2006 West Virginia Junior Amateur and tied for third last year. Last month, he placed 22nd in the West Virginia Open.

“I felt like I had a pretty good chance,” he said. “I’ve been playing well.”

Prince had it going early Wednesday. He was 2-under on the front, but double-bogeyed No. 13 and bogeyed 18 to finish his round with a 74.

It was his fifth straight day of tournament golf. He played in the BNI Memorial Tournament on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, finishing in a tie for third.

“I’m exhausted,” he said after completing his round Wednesday. “I’m taking a few days off. Mentally, I’m beat.”

Coming into the tournament, he said, he probably would have been satisfied with fourth place.

“But I had it going today and let it slip away,” he said. “I went eagle-birdie on four and five, but I didn’t capitalize.”

Prince’s score was good for a third-place tie in the 17-18 age group.

Other age group winners were Thadd Obecny of Wheeling in the 10-12 group, George Hamrick of Red House in the 13-14 group, Sydney Snodgrass of Harrisville in the girls 10-14 group and Brooke Bellomy of Ona in the girls 15-18 group.

West Virginia Golf Association executive director Ken Tackett announced the recipients of William C. Campbell Scholarships. Skaff, a 2008 Charleston Catholic graduate, and Jeffrey Barna of Hurricane each will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

Meanwhile, in the Wendy’s Skills Challenge held Tuesday, the winners were Cory Hoshor of Buffalo in the 10-12 group, Chris Williams of Scott Depot (13-14), Jess Ferrell of Fairmont (15-16), Brice Pelliccioni of Morgantown (17-18) and Elizabeth Frederick of Charleston (girls).



W.Va. Junior Amateur qualifier

at Pipestem Resort.

The overall championship is from ages 15-18. Ryan Mason of Bridgeport finished one shot ahead of Carson Schambach of Glen Dale and 3 ahead of Aaron Barna of Hurricane.

10-12

Thadd Obecny, Wheeling 76-74—150

Christian Casingal, Charleston 85-89—174

Cory Hoshor, Buffalo 87-87—174

Isaac Judy, Lindside 96-97—193

Justin Leonard, Wheeling 96-102—198

13-14

George Hamrick, Red House 75-76—151

Woody Woodward, Bridgeport 77-78—155

Seth Noorbakhsh, Vienna 79-77—156

David Miller Jr., Charleston 79-82—161

Hunter Woods, Morgantown 83-80—163

J.J. McPherson, Princeton 83-80—163

Josh Bumgarner, Winfield 83-81—164

Tyler Cardenas, Vienna 81-83—164

Austin Root, Parkersburg 85-80—165

Mark V. Pinti, Bridgeport 81-84—165

Trent McPherson, Charleston 84-81—165

Jordan McIntyre, Mineral Wells 83-84—167

Eli Lambie, Moundsville 83-85—168

Alex Hambel, Hurricane 84-87—171

Chris Williams, Scott Depot 85-86—171

Alan Cooke, Vienna 89-83—172

Cameron Ford, Bridgeport 83-89—172

Ryan Kissinger, Beckley 83-89—172

Evan Smith, Bluefield 86-88—174

Scott Hannah, Hinton 90-87—177

Michael Katchur, Vienna 87-91—178

Christian Hitt, Bridgeport 96-83—179

Cody Hill, Hillsboro 89-92—181

Jacob Hicks, Moundsville 91-90—181

Logan Williams, Hurricane 90-91—181

Opie Lucas, Point Pleasant 89-93—182

Will Kimberling, Charleston 86-96—182

Mason Humphrey, Vienna 91-96—187

Cody Carter, Man 103-89—192

Alex Boggs, Madison 98-102—200

15-16

Aaron Barna, Hurricane 73-73—146

Brian Anania, Hurricane 74-78—152

Sam Booth, Hurricane 79-73—152

Josh Webb, Washington 75-78—153

Harry Howell, Madison 79-76—155

Jeremy Rogers, Buckhannon 76-79—155

Shayne Wilson, Tridelphia 78-77—155

Marshall Hone, Wheeling 78-78—156

Josh Holmes, Huntington 84-73—157

Jess Ferrell, Fairmont 79-79—158

Brian Corder, Barboursville 80-79—159

Bradley Beebe, Martinsburg 80-81—161

Carl Roncaglione, Charleston 83-78—161

Jared Nelson, Charleston 80-81—161

Taylor Green, Hurricane 79-82—161

Tyler Clay, Barboursville 81-81—162

Andrew Skeens, Charleston 84-79—163

Jeremy Wilmoth, Clarksburg 80-83—163

Tyler Browing, Davin 82-83—165

Wyatt Burgess, Hurricane 84-81—165

Ollie Fankhouser, Vienna 82-84—166

Corey Justice, Madison 86-81—167

Devin Hamner, Bridgeport 82-85—167

Nathaniel Begley, Oak Hill 85-83—168

Grant Humphrey, Poca 87-82—169

Kyle Wiegel, Parkersburg 86-83—169

Jeffrey Lilly, Oak Hill 84-88—172

Matthew Metz, Cairo 87-85—172

Tony Lacy, Charleston 85-88—173

Tyler Merrifield, Fairmont 87-86—173

Zac Gresham, Chapmanville 85-93—178

Sammy Criss, Bruston Mills 92-93—185

Davey Freeman, Ona 92-97—189

Shane Light, Hewett 91-99—190

Evan Muscari, Pineville 77-DQ—DQ

17-18

Ryan Mason, Bridgeport 69-74—143

Carson Schambach, Glen Dale 74-70—144

Adam Skaff, Charleston 74-73—147

Clark Priddy, Nitro 71-76—147

Scott Prince, Daniels 73-74—147

Zachary Yochum, Wheeling 72-75—147

Patton Couch, Logan 72-76—148

Bosten Miller, Charleston 71-78—149

Todd Williams, Grafton 74-75—149

Vincent Burgess, Hurricane 75-74—149

Joey Seabright, Wheeling 77-73--150

Mark Gardner, Fairmont 75-75—150

Aaron Boggs, Madison 81-72—153

Chandler Beavers, Lerona 80-74—154

Derek Myers, Harrisville 74-80—154

Ben Kunselman, Washington 78-77—155

Matt McLaughlin, Morgantown 76-79—155

Max Knapp, Ravenswood 78-77—155

Aaron Totten, Marlington 77-79—156

Brice Pelliccioni, Morgantown 80-76—156

Chris Carter, Tornado 77-79—156

Korey Goad, Barboursville 79-77—156

Garrett Humphrey, Poca 83-74—157

Kyle Hill, Moundsville 74-85—159

Levi Stevens, Rockview 81-78—159

Matt Sisson, Sissonville 84-76—160

David Sager III 80-81—161

Elijah Bennett, St.Marys 84-78—162

Thomas Knight, Lewisburg 85-77—162

Sam Worthy, Huntington 79-87—166

Joseph Menello, St. Albans 83-84—167

Ross Workman, Logan 84-83—167

Adam Ware, Grafton 84-84—168

Jeff Ferda, Wellsburg 88-80—168

Korey Recinella, Wheeling 79-89—168

David Nicholas Dent, Hinton 87-83—170

Garrett Burdette, Buffalo 91-80—171

Adam Perry, Daniels 83-89—172

Drew DeHart, Barboursville 82-92—174

Michael Workman, Bridgeport 89-85—174

Brandon Dolan, Frankford 88-89—177

Rodney A. Eikey, Wheeling 85-92—177

Samuel Hutchinson, Wheeling 93-93—186

D.C. Conant, Sutton 102-88—190

Jay Woodward, Bridgeport 81-WD—WD

Jeffrey McGraw, Princeton 80-WD—WD

Ryan Orth, Tridelphia 100-WD—WD

Female 10-14

Sydney Snodgrass, Harrisville 89-92—181

Nikita Sangani, Charleston 95-95—190

Female 15-18

Brooke Bellomy, Ona 79-79—158

Elizabeth Frederick, Charleston 80-84—164

Meridith McGraw, Vienna 96-91—187