Williams, Bilby share West Virginia Open lead with 18 holes to play – WV MetroNews

Two golfers in search of winning their first West Virginia Open share the lead entering Friday’s final round in the 90th edition of the event at Berry Hills Country Club.

Mason Williams and Ryan Billy are tied at 5-under par after both followed an opening-round 68 with a 3-under par 67 in the second round.

90TH WEST VIRGINIA OPEN SCORES

Williams, part of the morning wave Thursday, shot a 30 on the back nine for a second straight day, including an eagle on the par-5 13th. A Bridgeport native who recently wrapped up a strong career at Georgia Southern and then turned professional, Williams found trouble on the front nine and made a pair of bogeys along with a double bogey 7 at the par-5 4th. However, Williams recorded a second eagle on the ninth hole, rolling in a par from about 15 feet on the par-5.

Bilgy, a junior at Marshall who starred at Brooke High School, carded five birdies against two bogeys in his second round. Through 36 holes, Bilby has nine birdies, three bogeys and a triple bogey on the par-3 14th during his opening round.

Will Evans, a Charleston native who golfed at Marshall, is in solo third and only two shots off the lead at 3-under.

WVU’s Todd Duncan and 12-time West Virginia Open winner David Bradshaw round out the top 5 and are well within striking distance at 2-under par each.

Joseph Kalaskey, a teammate of Bilby’s at Marshall, is tied with 2020 West Virginia Open winner Kenny Hess of Parkersburg for sixth at 1-under par.

Defending champion Christian Brand, 13-time West Virginia Amateur champion Pat Carter, two-time West Virginia Open champion Jonathan Clark and Huntington’s Cam Roam form a four-way tie for eighth at even par.

Williams, Bilby, Evans, Bradshaw and Hess all fired a 67 Thursday to tie for the for low round.

Williams, Bilby and Evans tee off at 11:09 a.m. Friday in the final group. 

Sixty-one golfers advanced to play in round 3 by making the cut, which was 14-over par.