PORTSMOUTH - The third time proved to be the charm.

The Chesapeake Panthers finally won the Division III sectional tournament Par 72 Shawnee State Golf Course after placing third last year and second the previous season.

This marks the third straight year the Panthers have advanced to the district.

"I'm ecstatic for the kids. The guys worked hard all summer and all season long. They're deserving of what they're getting now," Panthers coach Dave Houck said.

Chesapeake won with a 330 point total followed by Portsmouth Notre Dame with a 342 score, Portsmouth Clay at 349 and Lucasville Valley had a 359 score, one less stroke than South Webster.

Rounding out the team scoring were Pike Eastern 361, Manchester 382, White Oak 383, Peebles 403, Wheelersburg 419, Green 430, Sciotoville East 459.

The top four teams advance to the district next Tuesday at Cook's Creek

near Circleville.

The Panthers' Phillip Butcher shot a 76 to earn medalist honors for the tournament.

"He's been our most consistent golfer all year," Houck said.

Trent Finley had an 83, Chris Hansford 85, P.J. Rase 86 and Tyler Angle had a 96 to complete the Chesapeake scoring.

The Panthers were coming off their Ohio Valley Conference championship last Monday.

"We played well in the OVC and shot a 318, and I thought we were going to shoot that again until the wind kicked up. We were playing better than the final score indicated," Houck said.

The wind played havoc with all the Panthers. Butcher had a 34 on the front nine, but a 9 over on the back 9 left him with a

42.

Finley had rounds of 37-46, Rase 40-46 and Hansford 41-44.