West Virginia Am: Sam O'Dell wins 1st title

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.VA. (Aug. 8, 2013) — Sam O’Dell now has a special place in West Virginia golf’s history books, as he won the 94th West Virginia Amateur Championship today. The Hurricane native went 68-66-69-76 to win the Championship at 5-under-par. After the first round concluded, it was evident O’Dell was out to claim the victory, shooting a 68 on the Old White TPC’s par 70 course. He was the only player to post an under-par score that day. As the field moved to The Greenbrier’s Greenbrier course for the second round, he scored two strokes better than the day before. Staying on the Greenbrier course the third day, he shot 3-under 69. For his final round today, he slacked off a bit, posting a 4-over-par score, but was still able to seal the Championship by six strokes. O’Dell defeated Fairmont’s Woody Woodward and Hurricane’s Brian Anania,who tied for second at 1-over-par 285. Earlier in the week, three-time Champion, Tim Fisher was disqualified from the Championship under rule 15-3, playing a wrong ball. This was the first event Fisher had played in since his three-year suspension in 2010. Five-time Champion, Harold Payne, picked up the low senior award, nabbing two-time Champion, Steve Fox by one. Wheeling’s Thadd Obecny won the low junior award. Next year, the West Virginia Amateur will move up a couple months to June 2-5, 2014.