Daniels and Jude lead strong field at Mountain State Golf Classic

Chris Daniels is the defending champion, while Davey Jude is a 4-time champion

Anytime Davey Jude has been in the field at the Mountain State Golf Classic, he has always been one of the top contenders.

This year, the Kermit native is back in the mix and once again considered a favorite to hoist the trophy on Monday.

The annual tournament opens up at Grandview Country Club Saturday, followed by a trip to Pipestem Sunday. The championship round with be flighted and played on the Cobb Course at The Resort at Glade Springs.

Jude missed the 2025 event for the birth of his second child, but naturally has no regrets.

"I have played a lot less golf this year and I haven't cared about golf as much. Still think I can win. I know that I can win," Jude said. "It's the white tees the first couple of days. On those two courses, I am still going to drive it far and straight. It is a putting-fest for me. If I can make putts, I will be hard to catch. If I don't make putts, that is the way the game goes"

Jude burst onto the scene at the yearly Classic back in 2014 when he coasted past the field for his first title.

Following a brief sabbatical to play some professional golf, Jude returned to win three of the last four Mountain State Golf Classic events that he has played.

His second win came in 2021 and was followed by a runner-up finish in 2022.

Jude then won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, becoming the first to do so since Christian Brand won three titles in a row from 2009 to 2011.

"It is a fun tournament for everyone in the area," Jude said. "I spent a lot of summers up there for a long time. The tournament means a lot to me. It is fun in my eyes."

While the four-time champion is a top contender, the field is stacked with big time players.

Defending champion Chris Daniels is back with an eye on joining the multi-winner club for the tournament formerly known as the BNI Tournament.

After years of frustration at the event, Daniels finally broke through for the win, much to the delight of the crowd on hand a year ago.

It was icing on the cake in a banner year for the former Woodrow Wilson basketball state champion who won the West Virginia Golf Association Senior Amateur Match Play title in 2025 and was name the Men's Senior Player of the Year by the WVGA.

The stellar play for the defending champion has carried into 2026 as well. Daniels will tee it up Saturday coming off of a 3rd-plce finish at the WVGA Senior Stroke Play Championship.

Another name to watch is current Marshall University golfer Tanner Vest who finished runner-up at the 2026 WV Amateur Championship at the end of May played at The Greenbrier Resort.

"I have heard Tanner has been grinding really hard and playing really well. I feel like that may be my closest competition," Jude said. "I feel like if we shoot something like 10-under par, it might just be the two of us. We definitely can run away, but that is not likely. It is hard to win golf tournaments. Anybody can go out and put a score up."

Vest is one of several young guns in the tournament that could play their way to the top of the leader board, including Jack Williams who finished four shots behind Daniels a year ago.

Josh Arbaugh and Josh Carpenter tied for 2nd-place in 2025 and are back to make another run at the championship as well.

Play starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday with the final tee time each day set at 2:10 p.m. This year's event benefits The First Tee of Southern WV.