Nick Fleming of Cabins, Mason Williams of Bridgeport lead at one under par
Release from the West Virginia Golf Association
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — After one day of the 88th West Virginia Open at Pete Dye Golf Club two amateurs share the lead after the first round.
Nick Fleming of Cabins and Mason Williams of Bridgeport are sitting one under par. Amateur Christian Boyd of Charles Town is tied at par with 11-time WV Open champion David Bradshaw of Harpers Ferry as play at the event narrows the field to the final 60 players for the final round.
“The golf course played tough today, but it is a very good test for the best amateurs and professionals in West Virginia,” according to WVGA Executive Director Brad Ullman. “Round two will start Thursday morning at 7:40 a.m. from holes one (1) and ten (10).”
For those wishing to watch the action in person, the public is welcome each day and there is no charge for admission. To keep track of daily scores, visit wvga.org.
Presented by title sponsor WVU Medicine, the field of 132 amateur and professional players was determined by seven qualifying events at courses around the state between June 1 and June 17.
“WVU Medicine is so proud to be the presenting sponsor of the 88th WV Open, said WVU Medicine Senior VP of Finance and Chief Financial Officer Doug Coffman. “Pete Dye Golf Club is a good employer and is right in our backyard. Just like WVU Medicine, the WV Open is open to people throughout West Virginia. As a lifelong West Virginian, and a golfer, I just had to advocate for this partnership.”
While Mother Nature may have technically won Monday’s Pro-Am event at the West Virginia Open Championship, Tuesday saw an outstanding event for the Coca-Cola Shootout.
Defending 2020 WV Open champion Kenny Hess took top honors in the 2021 Coca-Cola Shootout, edging out Wheeling’s Thadd Obecny. “It’s great to win this,” Hess said. “The support of Coke for this event over the last 23 years has been remarkable.”
Participants included the top five professional finishers and the top five amateur finishers from the 2020 WV Open, presented by WVU Medicine. The final participant was the host club’s professional. The 2021 Coca-Cola Shootout field included amateurs Pat Carter, David Scragg, Nick Fleming, Owen Elliot and Christian Brand, plus professionals Cole Moore, David Bradshaw, Kenny Hess, Thadd Obecny, Will Evans and Pete Dye Golf Club Director of Golf Chris McGinnis.
“Golf is a sport enjoyed by people of all ages and we love to support healthy lifestyles for our consumers,” said Chris Estep, area sales manager for Coca-Cola Consolidated. “We’ve been associated with the WVGA for more than 20 years and they’ve given us a great way to support the game and our consumers.”
“As a first-time host professional, it was my pleasure to participate with such strong competitors,” McGinnis said. “It was also an outstanding opportunity to work with such great sponsors as Coca-Cola and WVU Medicine.”
As for the WV Open, Brad Westfall was the last winner of the WV Open at Pete Dye Golf Club in 2000. The former owner of the Tygart Lake Golf Course, a member of the PGA and the Tri-State PGA, Westfall passed away in 2016 at the age of 52. His wife, Jody Hammond Westfall, has donated his golf bag and trophy to be on display at the first tee throughout the tournament. In addition, a mannequin will be attired in Westfall’s signature all black outfit, from his Titleist hat to his black shoes, as a tribute to his contributions to golf and the WVGA.
“We are honored that the West Virginia Open Championship is back at Pete Dye, a top 100 golf course,” Pete Dye Golf Club co-owner Randy Buzzo said. “We want to raise the bar for this event.”
“Transformed from a coal mine in the magnificent Appalachian Mountains, this 7,248 yard par-72 championship course features 18 unforgettable holes with panoramic vistas, coal cars, Pete Dye’s signature land sculpting and even a 200-foot mine shaft walkway,” officials said.
According to Pete Dye, this course features “18 of the most exciting and memorable holes I have ever built on one course.”
In addition to WVU Medicine and Coca Cola, other event sponsors include: Advantage Occupational Medicine, Arsenal Resources, Buckhannon Toyota, Encova Insurance, Gray Griffith & Mays A.C., Joe Funderburk, Law Office of Philip A. Reale PLLC, Little General, Mon Health, Omega Commercial Interiors, Pro V Tree Services, PSIMed, Tri-State Roofing & Sheet Metal Company, Wincore Windows & Doors and Yes Chevrolet.
