From staff, wire reports
WHEELING — Princeton’s Chandler Beavers shot a sizzling 74 to take a 1-shot lead in the Class AAA portion of the state golf tournament at Ogelbay Park.
Beavers is one shot up on Wheeling Park’s Marshall Hone, who had a 75 on his home course.
Harry Howell of Scott matriculated the course, with fast greens measuring 13 on the stimpmeter, with a 77, to take a 6-stroke lead in Class AA.
Wyoming East’s Evan Muscari shot an 83 and is in a four-way tie for second place in Class AA along with Shady Spring’s Adam Perry, Bo Garrett of PikeView and George Hamrick of Poca.
Region 3 champion Nathaniel Begley shot an 87 in the first round.
“The greens were 13 or above on the stimpmeter,” Muscari said. “That’s like Oakmont and the PGA. To have high school players playing on that was tough.”
Muscari said that could work to a positive in today’s final round.
“On this course, he (Howell) has just as good a chance to shoot an 84 (Wednesday) and I could come back and shoot a lower round. I don’t think I’m out of it yet. I hope to be in the last group and hopefully I can make some pars and put some pressure on him. It’ll be difficult but it’s not impossible.”
Muscari said back-to-back sevens on Nos. 13 and 14 along with a double-bogey on No. 10 sabotaged his round.
“Without that, I’m around a 78 and one shot back,” the junior said. “I’m going to change my putter today and see if I can get some putts to drop.”
The final round concludes today.
