Brooke High’s Ryan Bilby celebrates after getting a birdie on hole No. 18 to close out the 2019 state golf tournament at 145. Bilby matched the 71 course par after bogeying on three straight holes on the back nine. (Andrew Spellman/The Dominion Post)
Local Sports, Sports

Brooke’s Ryan Bilby wins West Virginia State Golf Tournament after meeting par in Round 2

by Andrew Spellman, The Dominion Post

WHEELING, W.Va. – Brooke High School junior Ryan Bilby had a feeling heading into Round 2 of the WVSSAC State Golf Tournament that he was going to end the day victorious, but after shooting near-perfect on the first 14 holes he knew it was in the bag. 

“I wanted to have a bigger lead (coming into Round 2), but it felt good,” Bilby said. “I played well yesterday in the tough conditions, a couple of bad holes here and there, but I went out there today, played well and got the win.”  

Ryan Bilby chips a shot out of the trap on hole No. 8. Bilby was the 2019 WVSSAC State Golf Tournament champion with a score of 145 through both rounds. (Andrew Spellman/The Dominion Post)

The front nine were a cakewalk for Bilby, shooting two-under-par to take the lead over early title contender Ethan Hardy (Washington) who was in second place after Round 1. After meeting par on holes No. 10-14, Bilby bogeyed three-straight before tackling the 416-yard No. 18. After putting his second shot about eight feet from the hole, Bilby stepped up to deliver the final stroke to birdie and meet the overall course par. 

“I was overjoyed to see that ball go in (for the birdie on the 18th hole). It felt so good,” Bilby said. “I can’t even describe (how it feels to win). It hasn’t sunk in, but it feels amazing.” 

In Class AAA Bilby was followed by Wheeling Park’s Noah Seivertson who shot seven-over in Round 2 for a 155 total, overcoming Ethan Hardy by two strokes. Hardy fell to 3rd shooting 10-over to finish at 157. Seivertson had three birdies, one bogey and one double bogey through the front nine on Tuesday, and finished the front eight in a slump on Wednesday with two bogeys and one double bogey. He finished the back nine with two bogeys and a double bogey, four fewer bogeys than in Round 1. Hardy’s solid, five-bogey performance through all 18 holes in Round 1 was marred by three bogeys and a double bogey on the front nine and one bogey and three double bogeys on the back nine on Wednesday.

Overall, Bilby was trailed by Class AA Shady Spring’s Todd Duncan who totaled 150 on a seven-over-par day. Duncan managed a one-over-par in Round 1 through the wind and cold temperatures. 

NOTEBOOK: Morgantown does better by 12 strokes in Round 2 but still falls to 6th place; St. Marys wins Class A team championship with one-shot over Ritchie County 

In Class AAA, Huntington overcame Wheeling Park down the stretch, shooting two strokes better than a 253 performance by the Patriots. Huntington totaled 492 (66-over-par), while Park managed 498 (72-over). Greenbrier East took third at 503, followed by Capital (518), Cabell Midland (522), Morgantown (526), Martinsburg (566) and Washington (581). 

“I think we had a better result today, a lot of perseverance with this group of seniors,” Morgantown coach Nate Tallman said. “Jack Wiedebusch, Carter Patrick and Antonio Rollo, all they’ve done all year is come to practice with a great attitude and willingness to get better. I can’t say enough about their leadership this year. It was absolutely fantastic. I’m proud of their finish and proud of them. 

“Jack is a four-year letter winner and two-year state tournament participant, which is setting the standard at Morgantown. Antonio and Carter, when Jack had the absence due to his injury, really took over the team and their leadership was exceptional.” 

The Morgantown seniors, though upset to finish out their time with high school golf, are excited for future endeavors. Weidesbusch noted that it was nice to have “two great friends” around him through his final three years with the Mohigans. 

Weidebusch finished tied for 13th shooting 171 (87, 84), Rollo finished tied for 18th at 175 (90, 85) and Patrick finished 24th at 180 (92, 88). Another local golfer, Preston’s Luke Livengood, did not have as good of a Wednesday. After shooting 90 in Round 1, he withdrew on the second day of the tournament.

The tournament also featured Fairmont Senior taking the top spot in Class AA with a 504 total and 78-over-par. North Marion took second (539), followed by Shady Spring (543), Wyoming East (550), Robert C Byrd (552), Chapmanville (572), Roane County (580), and Winfield (609). 

St. Marys (552) edged Ritchie County (553) to claim 1st in Class A, followed by Charleston Catholic (558), Ravenswood (561), Tucker County (564), Webster County (576), Parkersburg Catholic (588), and Moorefield (605). 

  • Morgantown’s Carter Patrick watches his ball hit the back of the rim on hole No. 8 and pop out to miss par. Patrick finished 24th in Class AAA. (Andrew Spellman/The Dominion Post)
  • Morgantown senior Jack Weidebusch tees off on the 10th hole. Weidebusch shot 11-over-par in Round 2 to jump from 18th place to tie for 13th at the close of the tournament. (Andrew Spellman/The Dominion Post)
  • Brooke’s Ryan Bilby tees off on hole No. 9. Bilby birdied the hole to shoot two-under-par on the front nine. (Andrew Spellman/The Dominion Post)
  • Ethan Hardy takes a second to look over his shot while the rest of his group putts. (Andrew Spellman/The Dominion Post)
  • Brooke High’s Ryan Bilby celebrates after getting a birdie on hole No. 18 to close out the 2019 state golf tournament at 145. Bilby matched the 71 course par after bogeying on three straight holes on the back nine. (Andrew Spellman/The Dominion Post)
  • Brooke High’s Ryan Bilby celebrates after getting a birdie on hole No. 18 to close out the 2019 state golf tournament at 145. Bilby matched the 71 course par after bogeying on three straight holes on the back nine.
  • Ryan Bilby hugs his classmate and friend after winning the 2019 state golf tournament. (Andrew Spellman/The Dominion Post)

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HEAD SHOT ANDREW SPELLMAN
Author: Andrew Spellman, The Dominion PostA 2017 graduate of the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, Andrew has been with The Dominion Post sports department since July 2019. He is the former sports editor at the Spirit of Jefferson in Charles Town, and was Art Director at The Daily Athenaeum, WVU's independent student newspaper, for two years.