Cabell Midland golfer Reese Hunt shoots during the òòò½ÊÓÆµSSAC Girls Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, at The Links at Woodridge Golf Course in Mineral Wells, West Virginia.
Herbert Hoover's Emma Petry putts during the òòò½ÊÓÆµSSAC Girls Invitational golf tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, at The Links at Woodbridge Golf Course in Mineral Wells, West Virginia.
Cabell Midland golfer Reese Hunt shoots during the òòò½ÊÓÆµSSAC Girls Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, at The Links at Woodridge Golf Course in Mineral Wells, West Virginia.
TERAN MALONE | òòò½ÊÓÆµSSAC
Herbert Hoover's Emma Petry putts during the òòò½ÊÓÆµSSAC Girls Invitational golf tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, at The Links at Woodbridge Golf Course in Mineral Wells, West Virginia.
MINERAL WELLS, W.Va. òòò½ÊÓÆµ” To finish among the top golfers in a tournament is one thing. Finishing among the top eight in the largest field ever for the tournament is another.
Capital golfer Alexis Green and George Washington's Scarlett Albertson both tied at 80 to get into a three-way tie for sixth place at the òòò½ÊÓÆµSSAC Girls Invitational golf tournament on Tuesday.
John Marshall's Kianna Garrison scored the other 80. The trio finished behind medalist Audrey Kerr of Bridgeport, who shot a 70 to edge Morgantown's Angela Yao by one stroke.
St. Mary's McKenzie Armstrong (74) finished third, followed by Bridgeport's McKenna Knotts (75) and Williamstown's Madilyn Buttery (77) to round out the top finishers at The Links at Woodridge Golf Course.
Green, a sophomore, downplayed her play.
"I was decent," Green said. "I left a lot out there."
In truth, Green shaved 16 strokes off her score at the 2023 Girls Invitational at Mingo Bottom. Green did acknowledge that she has seen overall improvement in her game.
"I like seeing my growth throughout this season," Green said.Â
Albertson, a senior, had already played in the West Virginia Girls Junior and the state's women's amateur tournament this year, continuing her development since she began playing the sport during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Still, Tuesday marked the first time she had ever played at The Links.Â
Albertson said her play on the front nine holes could have been better, but then "I finished pretty strong," she said. "My putting got better."
Both players' coaches -- Capital coach Michael Terry and GW coach B.J. Calabrese -- praised them.
Calabrese didn't undersell the importance of Albertson's play, with the Mountain State Athletic Conference championship, the Kanawha County championship and the region championship looming.Â
"We need her," the coach said.Â
The turnout, according to òòò½ÊÓÆµSSAC associate executive director Wayne Ryan, was 131 for the tournament, including the field of less experienced players who competed in the nine-hole open tier field.Â
University's Morgan Byrd finished 11-over-par to win that in 45 strokes.
The players in both tiers represented 44 schools, Ryan said.
"I won't say it caught us off-guard," Ryan said, "but it certainly was a pleasant surprise."
The course this season -- the first at The Links -- did catch some players off-guard.
"I'm not used to playing off the side of hills," said Cabell Midland sophomore Reese Hunt, who played the Girls Invitational last year but had never played at Woodridge. "I had some good shots and bad shots."
Sissonville sophomore Keira Hill, playing in her first golf event ever, said the terrain caught her by surprise. Hill played in the open division and finished with a 68 for the nine holes she played.Â
Hill said she's looking forward to playing in a scheduled tournament next week at Coonskin Park.Â
"It's flatter," Hill said.Â
Winfield junior Ruby Stutler had played The Links three times, she said, but still felt like she could have played better, turning in an 84 for the tournament.
That score was four strokes off from tying Albertson and Green but still put her in a three-way tie for 10th place with Maddie Potts of Wheeling Central Catholic and Kenzie Egress of Lewis County.Â
"I'm not playing too great. I blew up the first hole," Stutler said after turning in a 7-over-par 41 through her first nine. "I made a lot of mistakes."
Herbert Hoover's Bella Bowen shot 21-over, while her Huskies teammate Emma Petry was 23-over. They took 16th and 17th place, respectively.
Hunt finished at 27-over to tie for 22nd.Â
Charleston Catholic's Abbie Nester was the first Irish golfer ever to play in the Girls Invitational, finishing the day tied for 58th at 45-over.Â
Rick Elmore covers sports. He can be reached at 304-348-5122 or relmore@hdmediallc.com. Follow @ElmoreSports on Twitter/X.
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