Mountain State Golf Classic: Perry goes low to move into championship contention

Landon Perry fires a 65 to move within three shots of the lead

Pipestem - Sunday at the 2025 Mountain State Golf Classic was "moving day" and Landon Perry pushed the pedal to the metal.

The 2017 champion wiped out the bad taste of a tough day Saturday with a blistering round of 7-under par Sunday at Pipestem State Park.

Entering the day eight shots back of leader Josh Carpenter, Perry is now only three shots back heading to the championship round Monday on the Cobb Course at The Resort at Glade Springs.

"Today was a good bounce back. I really needed it," Perry said. "You can't win the golf tournament on the first day, but you can lose it and I thought I did. Today was just a different day. I came out with a positive attitude and got it going from the start.

Perry's round came on the heels of a 74 at Grandview which included a triple-bogey on the par-4, 18th-hole.

"I hit a prefect drive down the middle," Perry said about the final hole Saturday. "I had a good yardage and honestly, I shanked it in the water. I dropped and thought I hit a good (approach) shot, but it flew over top of the stick. I didn't get it up and down and ended with a seven."

One of the key components of the Mountain State Classic is playing two days with friends. Time spent at a friend's house after the round put Perry back in a good frame of mind.

"Obviously that finish puts a bad taste in your mouth leaving the golf course," Perry said. "But, when you are coming back to Tim Erwin's house at the river, you have to let that stuff slide."

A good frame of mind and a solid start set the wheels in motion for the round Perry had to have to get back in the golf tournament.

After going birdie-bogey on the first two holes. Perry recorded two additional birdies on the 4th-hole and the par-5, 9th-hole.

The bird on No. 9 kicked off a string of six consecutive birdies for the current Director of Golf at Black Knight Country Club.

On a course that at given Perry fits over the years, the key to the run came at hole No. 12, a par-4 with water down the left side of the fairway.

"Hole 12 has been a curse for me in recent years. I have gone into that hole, I think two years in a row with the lead or tied for the lead and walked out of there over par," Perry recalled. "This year I hit a great drive almost pin high and got it up and down. I hit a good one there."

Sitting on four straight birdies, Perry knew it was no time to slow down and be conservative after hole 12.

"I had to stay aggressive, just because of the field. There are better players in the tournament than we are getting credit for. These guys are putting up great numbers," Perry said. "I told myself that I had dug a hole and it was time to get myself out of it. I was making good swings, trusting my process and making putts. I made two 15-footers for birdie after hole 12 and I let some emotion out on those. I was proud of myself."

Perry has had his fair share of championship flight appearances, along with the championship in 2017. Experience he hopes will benefit him Monday.

"I always feel like there is pressure on a past champion, but pressure is a privilege. I am happy to be in this spot," Perry said. "That is why I practice and why I play. The main thing is going out and being committed to myself. Keep the ball in front of me and give myself a chance. Hopefully I can put pressure on the guys in front of me and make it harder on them."