Cabell Midland played in the West Virginia Golf Ƶsociation High School Invitational tournament on Friday without No. 1 player Jack Michael.
ƵI donƵt think anybody will feel sorry for us,Ƶ Knights coach Matt Stead said, with a laugh, on Tuesday, knowing Michael had a prior commitment and wouldnƵt play Friday.
Stead was right. No one wept for a Cabell Midland squad that won the 27-team tournament anyway as Alex White, Carson Sergent, Wyatt Maynard and Cooper Childress combined to shoot 4-over-par 214 at the Riverside Golf Club in Mason, West Virginia. Maynard and Childress tied for second each with a 71. Sergent was third with a 72. Parkersburg SouthƵs Parker Vannoy won with an even-par 70.
- By TIM STEPHENS tstephens@hdmediallc.com
That performance, a nine-shot victory over second-place Hurricane, attests to how deep and talented the Knights are.
ƵIƵve told anybody who asks, and this is saying something for Cabell Midland golf, this is probably the deepest team weƵve ever had from top to bottom,Ƶ Stead said. ƵThereƵs a whole lot of competition out there. Our guys know it. They work hard.Ƶ
The KnightsƵ B team defeated 17 teams Friday. On Tuesday, Cabell MidlandƵs C team of Parker Roberts, Reese Dye, Ethan Moreland and Owen Elkins finished seventh in the 19-team Duke Ridgley Invitational at the Guyan Golf & Country Club. The B team of Childress, Andrew James, Bryan Mabry and Jackson Foster came in eighth. Childress, Mabry, Foster, Roberts and Dye all shot in the 70s.
- By RICK ELMORE relmore@hdmediallc.com
On Thursday, Cabell Midland finished second to Shady Spring in the Capital City Classic in Sissonville, West Virginia.
After Michael, who routinely scores in the 60s, the KnightsƵ next 11 golfers are almost interchangeable. Stead said knowing a teammate is pushing makes all his golfers better.
ƵIron sharpens iron,Ƶ Stead said. ƵTheyƵve known itƵs going to be this way for a long time. A lot of them played in the summer in Callaway events and even further away. They put the work in, and it shows.Ƶ
Cabell Midland hopes its talent leads to a state championship. The Knights finished fourth in the eight-team 2023 state tournament in Wheeling, behind Washington, Hurricane and Morgantown. In 2022, Cabell Midland was second to Wheeling Park.
- The Herald-Dispatch
Michael finished second individually in last yearƵs state tournament, seven strokes back of WashingtonƵs Tommy Evans. Michael, a junior, said heƵs excited about making a run at a state championship this season. The season-opening victory in the Duke Ridgley Tournament was a strong start.
ƵWe played amazing,Ƶ Michael said. ƵWe played great. Our B team is really solid.Ƶ
Cabell Midland won state titles in 2000, 2015 and 2016. The Knights were runners-up in 2004, 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2022.
Michael said heƵs worked hard during the summer to improve an already strong game. Other than for a brief jaunt on vacation to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, heƵs spent most of the summer on various courses.
ƵIƵve played a bunch,Ƶ Michael said. ƵIt was non-stop until about two weeks ago when I went on a trip, took a little break and came back feeling really good.Ƶ
Michael said his game has changed a bit since last season and in an unexpected way.
ƵIƵm a little bit shorter this year,Ƶ he said. ƵIƵve been dealing with some injuries, but those have made me develop other parts of my game better in terms of ball-striking and wedge game. Putting is pretty similar, but the mid-range has gotten better because IƵve been further back. Last year I was pounding it, wedge. Pounding it, wedge.Ƶ
Just as Stead didnƵt expect sympathy for the Knights without Michael, Michael doesnƵt anticipate any slack from opponents because of his injuries.
ƵWhen the (club) speed comes back, itƵll be great,Ƶ Michael said. ƵIƵll have all facets.Ƶ
Maynard has given the Knights a boost. Most freshmen likely would be pleased with the score he carded in the Ridgley Invitational, but he wasnƵt.
ƵEh, 76,Ƶ Maynard said, a tinge of disgust in his voice, after Stead asked him what he shot as Maynard came off the course.
Stead told him 76 on the 95-degree day was a good score. Maynard wasnƵt convinced, leading Stead to grin.
ƵAny time you have a freshman who can play like that, itƵs a good sign,Ƶ Stead said. ƵHe kept a level head through a rough start and proved something. IƵm happy for him.Ƶ
Stead said if players two through four can perform well behind Michael, the Knights have a great chance to win.
ƵWe know if we can get two or three 70s together, weƵre going to have a good score,Ƶ Stead said.
Good, though, isnƵt the goal. A state championship is.
ƵWe hope to make a run,Ƶ Stead said. ƵWheelingƵs the ultimate crucible. WeƵre going to try to get there and give it our best.Ƶ
