MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Prior to his team claiming the 18th Mohawk Cup, Morgantown coach Nate Tallman cited the tradition behind the rivalry and a peek at possible regional play as a driving force to claim the gold trophy.
“The kids talk about it all year long,” Tallman said. “It doesn’t count against you in terms of a varsity match, but it’s very meaningful. You have the trophy here, the parents are out, and more than anything it springboards you toward the regional championship. That is the ultimate prize.”
The rules were simple: four groups would compete for 37 total points in multiple modes of play through nine holes. To win, a team needed at least 19 points, and, should the teams tie, the two-time reigning champion Mohigans would win. One point would be given per hole won, and if the teams tied half a point would be awarded. Futhermore, holes Nos. 1-3 would be played for the best ball, Nos. 4-6 would be the same but hits would alternate between teammates and the back-3 would be a scramble.
Without a dark cloud in the sky and temperatures leveling out at 80 degrees, Group 2 comprised of MHS’ Ethan Wise and Conner Decker and UHS’ Brayden Wilson and Zach Harman began play.
Through the nine holes, Wise and Decker had crucial tees and chips onto the green to win out two points over Wilson and Harman 5.5-3.5.
The Mohigans’ Carter Patrick and Maxwell Gage – representing Group 5 – had a similar situation on their hands, out playing Sam Zeni and Colin Duda 5.5-3.5.
The other two groups weren’t as fortunate. Morgantown’s Antonio Rollo and Courtney Kline went shot-for-shot with Levi Watson and Alex Solomon. Rollo hit some trouble on the No. 1 hole, digging into a fried egg and pegging it into the same sand trap. Watson had trouble of his own, missing the fairway completely on his second shot and putting his ball across the path and under the trees. Similar trouble would plague Group 4, but the teams managed to keep up with one another ultimately tying at 4.5.
The scariest game for Tallman and Crew, and what could have dictated the cup going to Bakers Ridge, was the matchup within Group 3.
The showdown of the Jacks – Mohigans’ Jack Wiedebusch and Hawks’ Jack Giobbia – was too close for comfort for the four-year coach. Especially with Wiedebusch returning from a month off with a strained oblique.
“Jack started out really slow, but he does a really good job of keeping his head. He’s a great kid and it’s a wonderful way for him to finish his career.”
Down by three heading into the No. 8 hole, Wiedebusch’s teammate Owen Newbold sank a clutch putt to bring the Mohigans within two of Giobbia and fellow teammate Aubrey Estel.
“The Mohawk Cup is my favorite event of the year. I really wanted to come back for it,” Wiedebusch said. “Going down 3-0 early was tough, but I knew Owen and I could make a comeback.”
And a comeback they made. Newbold gave Weidebusch the read on the final green to make an 8-footer, knotting the score at 4.5 and giving MHS the pocket needed to win 21-16.
“This is a huge event for the student athletes, they talk about it all the time,” Tallman said. “(The match) was exceptional. I was telling my assistant coach that we had six new faces out of the 10, so you don’t know how the new guys will react. Everyone really stepped up.
“In the first hour of the tournament, University had a big lead, but we stayed the course, fought back and ultimately got the win.”
The win gives Morgantown a 10-8 all-time s lead in the series.
“That’s how you know it’s a good rivalry,” a smiling Tallman said.
Up next
“I’m really excited for regionals. Williams is a really good course,” Wiedebusch said about the Weirton greens.
For a guy who’s had a lot of success at Williams Country Club, Wiedebusch wants to play Thursday’s practice safe and rest his muscle. He’s feeling good, though, and the slow start in the Mohawk Cup allowed him to shake off any rust he may have had while rehabilitating the injury.
“My muscle is good,” he said. “I’ve been going to rehab at Apex Therapy, icing it and doing a little exercise. I’m almost at 100 percent. I’ll hit some shots and make some putts (at practice) to go into Monday confident.”
The senior’s favorite part of Williams is the fast greens and the course’s openness. He also likes the similarities to the Pines.
“If you have a shot that goes left or right you can recover from it pretty easily,” he said. “There’s a lot of bunkers – I like the sand. It’s almost the same distance as the Pines, just a little wider.”
Tallman likes his chances at regionals, too, and spoke highly of his hopes for Wiedebusch.
“All season long our ultimate goal has been to make it to the state tournament again,” Tallman said. “It’s going to be very tough. Out of the four schools, we’re 0-2 against John Marshall and Wheeling Park kicked our rear ends Tuesday at home. We’re going to have our hands full, but if we have a good practice and mindset going into it, anything can happen (that day). I think we played the toughest schedule in the area, so we should be prepared for the event.
“Jack shot a 78 at Williams last year (in the regular season), not to put pressure on him. In the regional (last year) it poured down the rain and Jack shot an 83. Carter and Antonio took an 85 and 86 (respectively) this year, so our guys love the Williams course.”
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