After picking up the win in the Sept. 25 WVSSAC Class AA Region II action at Mel Meadow Golf Club, the Bridgeport High School golf team – led by low medalist Mason Williams – advanced to the Oct. 3-4 state tournament at the Trent Jones Golf Course at Oglebay Park in Wheeling.

 

Again, Williams emerged as Class AA low medalist. Though they didn’t wind up in the top spot, the Tribe placed third among Class AA teams.

 

“We knew we didn’t have a deep team, so with the Big 10 playing six, count four, we wanted to try to push for second and unfortunately, got third,” said Coach Fred Wilhelm.

 

The Indians shot particularly well at Regionals, punching their ticket for states with ease, Wilhelm said. They may have missed the mark at the state tournament, but Wilhelm felt his team still ended a successful season on a positive note.

 

“The top four is what we were after. Our goal was to stay in the top four and we were in second place after the first day and finished third,” he said. “I’m real happy with our year.”

 

The format at States was to play four and count the top three scores. The Tribe's combined team score from both days of play was 503. Brayden Lesher shot an 87 on day one and 89 the final day of play. Matt Aman shot a 91 and 90, respectively, rounding out the Indians' team score. Also playing was Trevor Pandher who finished with 105 and 98. Other BHS golfers competing this season were Cooper Hineman and Joshua Messe. 

 

Taking the Class AA team title was Wyoming East with Fairmont Senior finishing second.

 

Securing all-around low medalist was Howie Peterson of Class A Madonna. Peterson shot a 67 and 74. Williams took Class AA low medalist honors by shooting a 70 in preliminaries and a 76 in the final round.

 

At Regionals, the Tribe scored 241 for the victory, led by Williams’ 69. Aman finished with 80, Lesher with 92 and Pandher with 94.

 

“With Mason and Matt, we figured we had two solid scores, but we still needed a third score and both Brayden and Trevor gave us two low 90s,” Wilhelm said.

 

Lewis County scored 252 for second place, so the Minutemen also advanced to the state tourney. The Minutemen’s Ayden Wyckoff was runner-up low medalist, shooting a 71.

 

After the first round of the state golf tournament, BHS stood in the second-place position among Class AA teams. The Tribe shot a collective 248, just behind Wyoming East with a 236.

 

Brayden Lesher’s 87 and Matt Aman’s 91 combined with Williams’ 70 for the team score.

 

"I wanted to play the best golf I could under the circumstances," he said. "I feel like I kept my round together well."

 

He said he had a rough start and was three over after 13 holes, but was able to finish strong with a 70. 

 

In finals, Williams said he has some trouble on the back nine, but after pushing through that, he felt pretty confident.

 

Since the BHS golf season, Williams signed to continue his athletic career at Division I Georgia Southern University. He said in addition to claiming low medalist at Regionals and States – and being part of the third-place state-ranked Indian golf team, he is just happy to have been able to spend time with his coach and teammates throughout the season.