SISSONVILLE, W.Va. òòò½ÊÓƵ” Todd Duncan has had quite the 2024.
Duncan finished his junior season at òòò½ÊÓƵU as a member of the Mountaineers golf team that qualified for the NCAA championships for the first time since 1947.
With only a few weeks left before heading back to òòò½ÊÓƵU, the Shady Spring alumnus won the 91st West Virginia Open at Edgewood Country Club in Sissonville on Friday.
Duncan shot 16-under par at the 54-hole event.
òòò½ÊÓƵœHonestly, speechless,òòò½ÊÓƵ Duncan said following the tournament win. òòò½ÊÓƵœThis is the biggest tournament that Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve won. It took a lot of birdies and good golf. To finally get it done, it kind of feels surreal. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s pretty awesome.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Duncan would be the first to admit he experienced some highs and lows throughout the three-day tournament.
When he hit a temporary low, Duncan walked it out, whether it be after a bad first swing on a hole or missing a putt.
Duncan uses the walks with his caddy, Drew Green, as a way of decompressing.
- By RICK ELMORE relmore@hdmediallc.com
òòò½ÊÓƵœThatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s honestly why we do it,òòò½ÊÓƵ Duncan said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe know that things can go bad, and theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re going to go bad. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s golf, and if we can walk it out and talk about that, (it helps). Most of the time, we have a good time out there and not think about it too much to make it harder on ourselves. We donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t ever stop, sit and wait all the time.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Green has been caddying for Duncan for the last few years.
The bond that has grown on the course has translated off the course, as the two are close.
òòò½ÊÓƵœHeòòò½ÊÓƵ™s caddied for me a lot,òòò½ÊÓƵ Duncan said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI was in the second final group last year and played the worst round of the summer. I was devastated and knew that I needed to come back and change that. He is amazing on the greens. He keeps me calm. He definitely helped to get this win.òòò½ÊÓƵ
- By RICK ELMORE relmore@hdmediallc.com
Duncan capped off his junior season playing 27 rounds for an average of 72.96.
The Shady Spring product believes that his game has taken strides from where he was his first season in Morgantown to now.
òòò½ÊÓƵœFrom two years ago in college to now, itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s night and day,òòò½ÊÓƵ Duncan said. òòò½ÊÓƵœEven last year, my gameòòò½ÊÓƵ™s changed so much. My bad has turned into not as bad, and my good has turned into way better. At West Virginia, we play the best in the world every week. So, that helps me for tournaments like this. It shows I can compete with whoever.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Duncan also credits the support and teaching of Mountaineers coach Sean Covich.
òòò½ÊÓƵœHeòòò½ÊÓƵ™s been great,òòò½ÊÓƵ Duncan said. òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve been there three years, going on four. Weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve had a great time all three years. We made it to the national championships. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s created a bond thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s tight. Him and I go way back from freshman year, when he brought me in as the only West Virginian on the team.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI respect him a lot. He gave me a chance, and Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve taken a good opportunity with it.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Duncan has been searching for a win in a tournament like the West Virginia Open or representing the Mountaineers.
The win on Friday gave him a morale boost before he heads back north in a few weeks.
òòò½ÊÓƵœIt gives me some momentum because Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m about to head back to school in two weeks,òòò½ÊÓƵ Duncan said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI know that my gameòòò½ÊÓƵ™s there. I can win tournaments and finally get that pressure to make putts coming down the stretch that I wanted for a while. I wanted a chance on the back nine, then gave myself a chance and ended up getting it done.òòò½ÊÓƵ
