LAVALETTE, W.

Friday, September 21, 2001

LAVALETTE, W.Va. – It was one for the thumb in 2001.

Each finger on the hand is accounted for after the Fairland Dragons won a fifth straight Ohio Valley Conference golf championship Thursday at the Lavelette Country Club.

The win was especially sweet for the Dragons because this season they were not the favorites. That distinction belonged to the Chesapeake Panthers.

But led by Austin Burcham who shared medalist honors with a 77, the Dragons posted a 329 team score while Chesapeake was 10 shots back at 339.

The South Point Pointers had a 345 total and the Rock Hill Redmen finished with a 372 score.

"We feel good about (winning the title). Going in I though Chesapeake would be definite competition and they were," Dragons coach Ed Wilgus said. "Fortunately, we had three guys who shot reasonably well."

Besides Burcham, J. J. Ferris carded an 80 Brad Taliaferro shot an 83, and Michael Hill was next with an 89 for the top four scores.

Phillip Butcher had a 77 for Chesapeake to share medalist honors with Burcham. Nick Karle shot an 83, Trent Finley an 89, and T. R. Hannan had a 90.

Tyler Stapleton had an 87 to lead South Point. Alan Gaskin and Andy Ray each had an 87 and Jared Enyart and Colton Copley each shot 90.

Rock Hill was led by Ryan Norris with an 89, Matt Barnard had a 90, Valerie McCoy a 96, and Brandon Medinger 97.

Named to the All-OVC team were Burcham, Ferris, Taliaferro, Butcher, Karle, and Stapleton.

Ohio Valley Conference

Golf Championship

at Lavelette Country Club

Par 71

FAIRLAND 329: Austin Burcham 77, J. J. Ferris 80, Brad Taliaferro 83, Michael Hill 89, Kendall Skaggs 99, Brian Williams 101.

CHESAPEAKE 339: Phillip Butcher 77, Nick Karle 83, , Trent Finley 89, T. R. Hannan 90, Timmy Thacker 96, Brad White 99.

SOUTH POINT 345: Tyler Stapleton 81, Alan Gaskin 87, Andy Ray 87, Jared Enyart 90, Colton Copley 90, Aaron Henson 111.

ROCK HILL 372: Ryan Norris 89, Matt Barnard 90, Valerie McCoy 96, Brandon Medinger 97, Tyler Jayne 98, Nathan Wagner 109.

ALL-OVC: Austin Burcham 77, Phillip Butcher 77, J. J. Ferris 80, Tyler Stapleton 81, Brad Taliaferro 83, Nick Karle 83.