Mason’s strategy pays off

By Pat Hanna
Regional Editor

July 16, 2008 11:19 pm

— 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