North Hagerstown's Aaron Staley crouches and tosses his putter in disbelief after missing a putt on Thursday at Black Rock Golf Course during the Washington County Public Schools Championship. (By Kevin G. Gilbert/Staff Photographer) |
North Hagerstown captured its second straight Washington County Public Schools golf crown on Monday at Black Rock Golf Course.
The Hubs put together a 334 total to outlast Smithsburg by two shots on a day of mixed weather conditions, ranging from morning drizzle to afternoon sun and wind.
• Click here to view and purchase photos from this event!
“We eked that one out,” said North coach Joel Rice. “I think our advantage was our (No.) four, five and six players. All of them played well and (Jason Moody) had his best competitive tournament of the year.”
Aaron Staley led the Hubs with a 77, followed by Moody’s 82, an 87 from Nate Parchment and an 88 from Chad Shindle.
Led by Kyle Huntzberry’s 77, the Leopards just fell short with contributing scores from Christian Grosh (83), Shane Fritts (84) and Logan McSherry (92).
The 5-over-par 77s left Staley and Huntzberry heading to a playoff, starting on the uphill par-4, 390-yard eighth hole.
Despite a stray tee shot into the rough, Huntzberry recovered with a pitching wedge from 125 yards to the green that rolled 30 feet past the pin.
Staley, in the middle of the fairway, went 15 feet past the pin but left his putt about 2 1/2 feet short, while Huntzberry’s first putt went sliding about three feet left of the cup.
Huntzberry sank his par putt, but Staley pulled his short putt for bogey that would have forced a second playoff hole.
“We went back and forth all day,” said Huntzberry of his battle with Staley, which goes back to last season as sophomores. “(Aaron) was up by 2 at 13, I came back to go up by 2 ... we just kept battling.”
Huntzberry was ready for the second playoff hole after making his par putt.
“I expected him to make it,” he said. “After I made mine I was thinking about my drive on the next hole. It’s sweet to win, especially in a playoff.”
Staley, who had a 1-over-par 37 on the front nine while Huntzberry had a 39, nearly fell out of contention after a triple bogey on the par-4 13th hole.
He recovered with a birdie on the par-5 16th despite a tee shot to the right that forced him to manufacture a second shot with a 3-iron out of the tree roots.
Staley tied Huntzberry with a par save on the 17th, but neither could take command on the 18th.
“(No. 16) was a good hole,” said Staley. “I had to hit with roots right around the ball. I was happy to get into the playoff. I didn’t think I had a chance but (Kyle’s) bogey on 15 gave me some life.”
Williamsport’s Ryan Crabtree, along with Fritts, were in the mix through the front nine as each posted 1-over 37 before finding rough waters on the back nine, including a range of double to quadruple bogeys.
Williamsport finished third with 342 strokes, Boonsboro had 365, South Hagerstown had 381 and Clear Spring 412.
Washington County Public Schools Championship
At Black Rock
Yards: 6,280 Par 72
(Top 4 count in team scores)
NORTH HAGERSTOWN (334)
Aaron Staley 37-40—77
Jason Moody 41-41—82
Nate Parchment 44-43—87
Chad Shindle 41-47—88
Andrew Miguel 44-46—90
SMITHSBURG (336)
Kyle Huntzberry 39-38—77
Christian Grosh 41-42—83
Shane Fritts 37-47—84
Logan McSherry 46-46—92
Ryan Milligan 49-46—95
Brent Wagaman 48-49—97
WILLIAMSPORT (342)
Scot Drury 39-41—80
Ryan Crabtree 37-46—83
Ryan Corgard 47-41—88
Devin Blackman 42-49—91
Matt Stemper 45-50—95
Andrew Jamison 55-60—115
BOONSBORO (365)
Ryan Walsh 42-46—88
Hunter May 43-46—89
T.J. Shadoan 47-45—92
Eli Willems 48-48—96
David Wilbraham 52-50—102
Sam Dalauro 60-59—119
SOUTH HAGERSTOWN (381)
Riley Stephenson 40-42—82
Luke Shindle 47-52—99
Cody Reeder 44-56—100
Dylan Bickford 52-48—100
Eric Sprecher 48-55—103
Richard Elliott 58-65—123
CLEAR SPRING (412)
Eric Martell 42-51—93
Garrett Hull 47-57—104
Kyle Shanholtz 48-59—107
Tim Stoner 53-55—108
Owen Nield 55-55—110
Trei Commer 56-54—110
HANCOCK
Individuals
Cody Trunkle 42-47—89
Kyle Kerns 46-52—98
