By Jed Blackwell – Associate Editor, Publisher The Golf Club

Casey Kosney tipped his hat before his final putt at the Rebel Invitational even reached the cup.

Kosney, who tied for medalist honors at the event with Dorman teammate Will Ruth and Spartanburg’s Davis Petty at two-under-par 70, lined up a 20-footer that looked a lot like Ruth’s prior putt.

He gave it a rap, and celebrated when it was a little more than halfway out.

“I knew within about five feet,” Kosney said. “There was no way it was going anywhere but the hole. Will gave me a really good read on it, and I saw the line and just executed.”

The putt was made possible by a good 58-degree wedge shot into the green, something Kosney said helped him all day.

“Off the tee, I was giving myself good chances to hit good second shots,” he said. “This course isn’t really long, it’s more driver-wedge. But you have to give yourself a chance off the tee.

Kosney’s stellar round, paired with Ruth’s, helped Dorman to a 296 and the tournament victory. Leyton Talley shot 77 for the Cavaliers, while Luke Anderson fired a 79.

“We got off to kind of a rocky start, but the boys steadied the ship,” Dorman coach Brad Kelly said. “They kept sticking with it and brought it home.”

Kelly said the victory was especially sweet given the tournament’s loaded field.

“We have a couple of new guys, and we haven’t gotten a win in a while,” he said. “They’re all super-excited, and I’m excited. To beat some of the great teams we beat today, to be in the field and pull it out, it’s pretty cool. We’re ecstatic.”

Petty’s 70, in his first official high school start, helped spark the Vikings to a second-place finish with a team score of 300. Connor Williams shot 73 for the Vikings, with Hugh Lemonds turning in a 76 and Brady Lowry carding an 81.

Riverside finished third with a 301, with Matthew Morgan’s even-par 72 leading the way. Lane Wilson shot 73 for the Warriors, Brennan Kelly had a 76, and Sam Workman shot 80 for Riverside.

Greenville was fourth with a 302, as Parker Homesley shot 74, Hugh Faulkner shot 75, Tip Price carded a 76, and Griff Bell shot 77. Defending 5A champion T.L. Hanna was fifth at 303. Erik Erlenkeuser made the All-Tournament team with a 71, with Cal Harbin and Caden Olsommer each shooting 77 and Landon Smith shooting 78.

Mauldin’s Evan Eassy and Chapman’s Will McCraw both matched Erlenkeuser’s 71 to earn All-Tournament honors.