Junior golf tour concluding today
By Jay W. Bennett, Special to The TimesPARKERSBURG - The Mid-Ohio Valley Junior Golf Association season-ending event begins at 8:30 a.m. today at the Oxbow Golf and Country Club in Belpre.
Out of the three age groups - 12-and-under, 13-15 and 16-18 - there are two championship titles which have to be settled and a pair of scholarships ($1,000 and $500) to be awarded to the top two players in the eldest division.
In the youngest age bracket, Travis Bailey has secured more than enough points and already has the title wrapped up.
However, the same can't be said when it comes to the 13-15 age group as Parkersburg South freshman-to-be Austin Root holds a slim edge against Parkersburg High School golfer Jansen McCloy, 125-122.
In the 16-18 division, Parkersburg South senior golfer Matthew Hess needs only a top five finish to secure the top prize of the $1,000 scholarship.
Last year, Hess' Patriot teammate and fellow classmate Ben Kunselman captured the $1,000 scholarship.
This summer, Hess has played in every MOVJGA event and has secured 121 points. That total gives him a 10 point advantage as fellow Parkersburg South golfers Kevin Bayer (111), Josh Webb (109), Kunselman (107) and Williamstown golfer Jordan Pomrenke (103) comprise the top five and are more than likely fighting for the $500 runner-up scholarship.
"That's why I'm going to win," Hess admitted of having the opportunity to play in every event. "I got to play in all of them and everyone else had to miss at least one."
When asked if he was getting any ribbing from his fellow Parkersburg South teammates Hess replied, "I have heard that quite a few times actually."
Hess said although he definitely plans to go to college, he's unsure whether he's going to play golf.
For a golfer who only has been playing the sport for about three years, Hess said he carries around a 6-7 handicap.
Despite not making varsity for the Patriots as either a sophomore or a junior, Hess is hoping he can turn what has been a pretty solid summer into some success this season for Parkersburg South, which failed to make it out of regional competition last year.
"I'm pretty pumped," Hess said of having the chance to secure the $1,000. "I've played Oxbow a few times, but I always struggle a bunch."
Hess, who admitted, "I don't have a very good short game," has qualified along with Kunselman, Webb and Root to play at The Greenbrier at the end of the month for the final event on the Top Flite Junior Tour.
