(Photo gallery by Teran Malone)
SISSONVILLE, W.Va. — Todd Duncan and Will Evans stepped onto the first tee Friday at Edgewood Country Club at double digits under par after two rounds of the 91st West Virginia Open. It was likely that a low number would be required to win the tournament.
Duncan posted a second consecutive round of 6-under par 65 to finish at 16-under and hold off Evans to win the tournament that features the top professionals and amateurs in West Virginia.
“I am honestly speechless. This is the biggest tournament that I have won,” Duncan said. “It took a lot, a lot of birdies and a lot of good golf. Just to get it done, it kind of feels surreal. It is awesome.”
Duncan, a WVU rising senior and Shady Spring High School alumnus, and Evans birdied the Par 5 18th hole. Playing in the final group, the duo created some distance on the field midway through the final round.
Duncan built a lead as the final group neared the turn. But a weather delay of nearly an hour stopped some of Duncan’s momentum. Evans, a Charleston native and former Marshall golfer, closed the gap.
“I had a three-shot lead with nine to play and I was feeling good. Then that rain delay happened, which kind of throws things off. I was kind of getting in a groove and it kind of stopped me a little bit. And Will came out firing. He made putt after putt after putt. He did all he could,” Duncan said. “But I played the best I could today. I didn’t have any mistakes. When I was in trouble, I kind of got out and survived with pars. Will made it fun. We had a lot of fun out there and it was a bunch of good golf.”
Duncan went bogey-free in the final round and he played the final 20 holes of the tournament at 8-under. He is a key member of the WVU squad that qualified for the NCAA National Championships in May.
“It has been a long time since I have won any tournament, honestly. Going to college and playing at West Virginia, it is very tough to win. So it has been a while. Junior golf was probably the last one I have won that was pretty big.”
Duncan is the second consecutive amateur to win the West Virginia Open, following Ryan Bilby in 2023.
2020 Open champion Kenny Hess finished third at 10-under. Davey Jude and West Virginia Amateur champion Christian Brand finished tied for fourth at 9-under.
12-time Open champion David Bradshaw and Noah Mullens finished tied for sixth at 7-under.