MORGANTOWN – The 2024 Mohawk Cup was held Thursday evening at Lakeview Golf Course in Morgantown on a perfect evening in Cheat Lake.
The annual event, which sees the Morgantown Mohigans square off against crosstown rival University High, has become one of the more anticipated days of the season for the two teams. The winner takes home the coveted Mohawk Cup Trophy to keep until next year.
MHS defeated the Hawks by a score of 29-18 after the conclusion of the seven nine-hole matches to defend its title from a year ago and keep the Mohawk Cup on Wilson Avenue.
“It’s been a fantastic year for us, and we’ve had a lot of success,” MHS head coach Christian Root said. “We have five seniors on the team who are all crucial to our team, and they are just solid kids and solid golfers. Gabe Watson and Andrew Sheets have been great captains this season. They lead by example and are always grinding and working to improve; that effort trickles down throughout our roster, which is all you want from your players.”
The Mohigans held the advantage in every match but one in the evening, which was an even push secured by UHS junior Noah Kleeh, who sank a birdie putt from over 75 feet to win the final hole and earn the draw after nine holes.
Both programs now look ahead to next week as each will be represented in the field at the 2024 WVSSAC state golf tournament next week at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling.
The Hawks head north as the Region I champions. Senior captain Daniel Grabo also earned co-medalist honors, firing a 1-over 73 at Highland Springs in Wellsburg to lead his team to the state tournament.
After suffering a broken wrist during baseball season last year, Grabo wasn’t medically cleared to play golf until August 5, when UHS held its first day of golf tryouts.
“He came out and knocked the ball around that day and did alright,” UHS head coach Barry Kolar said. “He kept working at getting more comfortable and stronger all season and it paid off for him. We played Highland Springs back on September 4, and he shot a 46 on the back nine where par is 37, which isn’t bad. That’s decent golf.”
On Monday, during the Region I championship at the same course, Grabo shot a 39, 4-over par on the front nine before making the turn and firing a 3-under, 34 that helped his team to the Region I team title and a share of the low-medalist honors.
“After the injury, I knew I would be out for a while,” Grabo said, who spent five months healing and rehabbing. “The first day of tryouts was when I got cleared, and I’m not going to lie, it was rough. But we set goals we wanted to achieve as a team, and I had some goals that I wanted to accomplish myself, and I’m so glad we’ve made them happen this season. It’s been special.”
On Tuesday morning, the Hawks will send Grabo, junior Owen Estel, senior Adam Argabrite, and sophomore Will Biddington to Wheeling for the two-round state tournament.
The Mohigans’ senior Gabe Watson and junior Solas Chhin-Kreiner are both individual qualifiers out of Region I and will head to Wheeling on Tuesday.
“They know the course, and more importantly, they know the greens there,” Root said. “That can be the real equalizer. Gabe is good off the tee and has increased his distance this season, if he can keep the ball in play on a narrow course and limit his big numbers he will have a chance to shoot low.
“With Solas, he’s incredibly grounded and consistent. He doesn’t lose himself to the moment, good or bad, high or low, and he isn’t scared. Neither of them are. It’ll be a slightly different mindset this year going as individuals but I trust these guys just to go out and have fun playing a competitive round of golf and give themselves a chance to do something special.”
The 2024 WVSSAC state golf tournament will begin on Tuesday morning at the Jones Course at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling.
Watson will begin the day, teeing off at 10:05 a.m., followed by Chhin-Kreiner at 10:15 a.m.
The Hawks will begin with Argabrite at 10:25 a.m., with Biddington, Estel, and Grabo following every ten minutes.
In Class A, Clay-Battelle junior Ryan Parker qualified as an individual and will begin his opening round at 9:10 a.m.
