MOUNDSVILLE – Buckhannon-Upshur’s Evan Coffman earned a trip to the state golf championship after firing a 79 at the Region I Championships Monday at the Moundsville Country Club.

Coffman finished fourth overall with his score of 79.

“Coffman played consistent all day and was leading at the turn,” remarked Buckhannon-Upshur head coach Jason Westfall. “I am very proud that he finished in the top five and will be heading to states as an individual qualifier.”

Unfortunately for Coffman his teammates won’t be joining him.

The Bucs, who made the state tournament last year and were looking for a return trip this year, and fresh off a victory at the Big 10 Championships last week, finished a disappointing fifth out of eight teams in the Region I Tournament.

The Bucs carded a 256 during the tournament.

Wheeling Park and John Marshall earned berths to the state tournament after Wheeling Park won the Region I Tournament with a 240 while John Marshall was runner-up with a 247.

Morgantown and University finished right in front of the Bucs with scores of 251 and 255.

Bridgeport took sixth, Preston seventh and Brooke rounded out the field in eighth.

“It wasn’t the result we have been working toward and we fell short of our goals,” noted Westfall. “We just didn’t have it today. Sometimes days like today happen and this is a very competitive region.”

Buckhannon-Upshur’s Isaac Lane placed seventh overall with an 82 while Landon Hitt and Easton Perkins each shot 95s.

“Lane had a few holes he wasn’t happy with and Hitt just couldn’t get his short game together,” said Westfall.

While Coffman will move onto the state tournament, this was the last competition for the four seniors (Coffman, Lane, Hitt and Tucker Hurst, who didn’t play in the tournament) will have together after bringing the golf program back to prominence.

“There are feelings of disappointment and frustration, however, they all can live with how they competed,” stated Westfall. “Even with the struggles they had, they still played with class and never stopped fighting. Let me be clear that I wouldn’t change anything that has happened these last four years. This group stayed together and worked very hard from day one to get better. We are a family and that will never change.”

Coffman, along with University’s Landon Spiker who also earned an individual spot, will compete in the two-day state championship beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at the Oglebay Jones Course.