State Golf Tournament: Region 3 looks to add more championship hardware

Shady Spring and Midland Trail enter the state tournament as the top-ranked team in their respective classes

Over the last decade, Region 3 has been a huge player at the state golf tournament in Wheeling winning both team titles and individual crowns on the difficult Jones Course at Oglebay Park.

The 2025 state tournament commences Tuesday in Wheeling and one again, Region 3 will be in the championship hunt.

Like most high school sports going forward, golf has expanded from three class to four this year.

In Class AAA, AA and A, the top two teams and the top two individual players qualified for the big show. The big schools were split into two regionals, north and south, with four teams and four individuals earning a tee time on the Jones Course.

Shady Spring won the AA championship last year, but moved up to Class AAA in 2025. The Tigers won the Region 3 title last Monday followed by runner-up Princeton. Isaac Hutchison from Greenbrier East secured one of the individual qualifying positions.

Shady is the top-ranked AAA team and Princeton is third among the teams that will play in Wheeling. Both teams are more than capable of returning home with the championship trophy.

All four Shady Spring players are ranked in the top-15 in AAA led by Cooper Ward (2), Malachi Flohr (6), Tyler Beard (7) and Grant Winkler (15). The foursome will also be contenders for the AAA individual crown.

Ward, Beard and Winkler all played on the 2024 state championship team and earned all-state honors.

Princeton has the top-ranked player in the Mountain State in Cart Hinkle who was the low medalist at the regional match. Hinkle is no stranger to big tournaments or pressure packed environments which makes him a serious contender for the individual title as well.

Hinkle won the Virginia AA individual title last year at Graham.

Blaine Morgan, Eli Bailey and Blake Bishop will join Hinkle in the championship quest for the Mercer County boys.

Hutchison will also be a strong contender for the AAA individual crown. The Spartan standout finished third last year and has played well in Wheeling.

Midland Trail was the 2024 Class A Region 3 champion and the Patriots repeated that feat after moving up to Class AA this year.

Trail has been incredibly consistent this year and is the top-ranked team in AA. Two players are ranked in the top-10, led by Jake Brown (4)and Landyn Cordle (10). The duo will be joined by Van Wood and Cam Thomas.

The Hico boys will have experience on their side this year on their championship journey.

Wyoming East was the AA regional runner-up in a tight battle with Midland Trail, but East also has the talent to win the overall championship.

The Warriors are the No. 3 ranked team led by the sophomore Talan Muscari (5), Jake Stewart, Brayden Hood and Broc Johnson.

The No. 1 ranked player in AA is Ayden Pavlik from Westside who will make his state tournament debut. The freshman phenom was the low medalist in the regional match and is also battle tested in the junior golf circuit.

Summers County senior Xavier Honaker will close out his successful high school career in Wheeling. Honaker is the No. 3 ranked AA player and has battled the course in year's past, giving him an edge on the field.

Honaker earned all-state honors in his 2023 appearance.

Greater Beckley Christian will journey north for the first time in over two decades.

The Crusaders are young, but have a talented group led by freshmen Max Carr (8) and Iziah Gordon (11). They will be joined by Eli Gunter, the only senior, and sophomore Collin Howell.

Richwood standout Weston Wayne and Greenbrier West senior Kamden Sams will tee it up in the individual tournament.

Beckley will have two players in the AAAA individual competition this year including Tyler Stover (13) and baseball standout Drew Gallaher. Stover played in the 2023 state tournament.

The state golf tournament is a 36-hole event that will conclude Wednesday.