Ward, Williams and Hutchison qualify for the 2025 WV Open

Cooper Ward, Jack Williams and Isaac Hutchison Join the Prestigious Field

Generally, the goal in golf is to shoot the lowest score possible to win an event.

While a low score was still the desired objective Thursday morning, the main goal on the Cobb Course at The Resort at Glade Springs was play well enough to be among the top-18 finishers in a field of 50 golfers.

The top-18 golfers would secure a spot in the 92nd West Virginia Open Championship played at Sleepy Hollow Golf Course in Hurricane, July 23-25.

Shady Spring rising-senior Cooper Ward, former Shady Spring all-stater Jack Williams and Greenbrier East rising-junior Isaac Hutchison all punched their ticket to prestigious event.

Ward recorded one of only four rounds below par, shooting 2-under par (70) and played super steady all day.

"I definitely played really well today. I hit 16 greens (in regulation)," Ward said. "I holed out on No. 1, my 10th hole today. That was definitely a good jump start for the last nine (holes) of the day."

Starting on the back nine holes, Ward made two birdies and two bogeys. The last birdie came on the difficult, par-3, 17th-hole.

"I birdied 13 and 17 which was a good birdie," Ward said. "I made like a 20-foot slider for birdie on 17."

Making the turn already in a good place to qualify for the Open, Ward hit a drive in a perfect spot, just over 80 yards from the pin.

"I told Greg (Daniel), my caddie today and also my (high school) coach, that it was my favorite number. I called it. I told him it was going to go in before I hit it," Ward said. "I landed it like 15-feet short and knocked all of the spin off it, so it would have a chance to go in. I didn't want to spin it off the green. It was on a perfect line and it went in."

Ward stayed clean over the final eight holes to secure his spot at Sleepy Hollow.

Hutchison and Williams were a little closer to the plus-5 cut line shooting 3-over par, but neither player was really ever in any danger of missing the qualifying number.

The Shady Spring state champion played the first 14 holes at even par before making bogey on three of the final four holes. Coming off of an 86 in last year's qualifier, Williams was clearly pleased with the marked improvement.

"It feels pretty sweet, especially after shooting what I shot last year. Coming out on the same course and getting a good score is pretty special," Williams said. "I haven't played my best golf the last week, but I am coming off two really good rounds in the (WVGA) 4-Ball Tournament. I shot one of my first under-par rounds. Confidence is the main thing. If I can stay confident, I will play good golf."

While Williams will be playing in the Open for the first time, he does have experience playing WV Amateur Championship to lean on.

"The Amateur is unlike anything else. You are playing at the Greenbrier, one of the premier courses in the state," Williams said. "The field at Open is a little more of a stacked field, but it definitely calms the nerves having played in an event like the Amateur."

Hutchison has been steady all summer after a top-3 finish in the Class AAA State Golf Tournament last fall in Wheeling.

The Spartan standout played the first 15 holes at 1-over par before ending with two bogeys over the final three holes.

"It is a big deal for me. I left way too many shots out there for my liking, but I am pleased and excited for my first Open," Hutchison said. "I birdied 14 and 15, then on 16 I got next to a tree. I had to punch out and ended up taking a bogey. On 17 I hit a great shot and two putts, but on 18 I clipped a tree limb on my third shot an took a bogey."

Hutchison is coming off of a strong performance at the Junior Amateur Championship last week where he shot 4-under par for the three-day event. He also played in the Amateur Championship this year for the first time.

I didn't play great in the Amateur. It was my first time in it and definitely a new experience for me, but it was a lot of fun," Hutchison said. "I am extremely confident in my game right now. The short game is in the best spot it has been since states last year. The game feels good."

Earning Medalist Honors was Ben Palmer of Parkersburg, finishing at three under par (-3) 69.

Other qualifiers were:

• Parker O’Dell of Hurricane, (-2) 70;

• Stephen McDavid of Scott Depot, (-1) 71;

• Parker Vannoy of Mineral Wells, (E) 72;

• Noah Mitchell of Charleston, (+1) 73;

• Emmanuel Lim of Bluefield, Va., (+3) 75;

• Jeff Bryant of Charleston, (+3) 75;

• Jared Nelson of South Charleston, (+3) 75;

• Doug Wallace of Morgantown, (+3) 75;

• Isaac Hutchison of Lewisburg, (+3) 75;

• Jason Holstein of Hurricane, (+3) 75;

• Karson Terry of Peterstown (+4) 76;

• Isaac Hayes of Hurricane (+4) 76;

• Chase Wolfe of Charleston (+4) 76;

• Josh Howell of Fayetteville (+4) 76; and

• Ben Edwards of Keezletown, Va. (+4) 76.

Alternates are Stevie Lampe of Vienna and Brandon Wilfong of Cass.

The WV Open Championship has a rich 91-year history.

Legendary professional golfer Sam Snead holds the record for the most WV Open victories at 17. The defending champion is for Shady Spring state champion Todd Duncan of Daniels.