BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. - The Ironton Fighting Tigers golf team shot for the moon and hit the stars.

Just looking to make the top five, Ironton turned in its best performance of the season by finishing second in the 19-team Huntington Invitational Saturday.

Ironton coach Jeff Kerns was hoping for a top-five finish before the tournament. He was more than pleased with the outcome.

"Any time you're playing schools that are divisions higher than you with that kind of talent, it feels pretty good," Kerns said.

"Realistically, we wanted to win but we wanted to play well and be in the top five. The guys responded well to taking five players and all five count. They reacted well to the pressure. They couldn't take a day off because all the scores counted."

Each team enters five players and all the scores count. Ironton had four of the five break 80.

Seth Christian shot a 72 to take medalist honors for Ironton. Nathan Kerns was just one stroke behind with a 73, Dennis Gagai had a 75, Jay Rudmann had his best round of the fall with a 79 and Gavin Harbolt shot a solid 83.

"All the guys contributed. I couldn't have asked them to play any better. Going in we knew we had to play like that. We never try to put a number on anyone going in, but we'll take the numbers we put up," Kerns said.

Ironton is now 32-1 on the season.

"At this point in the season, we're ahead of my expectations. I thought we could get there by the middle or end of the season. They're just playing well," Kerns said.

"The thing we have to do is not get complacent. We play some good teams and we have to get back to work. This is not a stopping point by any means. We've got a lot of good teams left. Hopefully, there won't be a letdown."

Ironton will face three strong teams today as they host a quad match against South Point, West Union and Elliott County, Ky., at the Ironton Country Club.

Huntington Invitational

At Esquire Golf Club

Par 72

PARKERSBURG SOUTH 378: David Bayer 36-38 = 74, Ben Palmer 38-39 = 77, Kenny Hess 37-39 = 76, Mike Goldsberry 38-37 = 75, Jeremy Webb 36-40 = 76.

IRONTON 382: Dennis Gagai 39-36 = 75, Seth Christian 35-37 = 72, Nathan Kerns 37-36 = 73, Gavin Harbolt 43-40 = 83, Jay Rudmann 38-41 = 79.

CABELL MIDLAND 396: Brad Gardner 39-37 = 76, Eric Williams 39-44 = 83, Evan Conard 39-43_82, Drew DeHart 34-40 -74, Adam Knecht 42-39 = 81.

HUNTINGTON HIGH 401: Larie Lynch 40-42 = 82, Bobby Fredeking 36-37 = 73, Andy Agee 40-42 = 82, Tyler Shoub 38-40 = 78, Matt Churton 42-44 = 86.

CAPITAL 404: x-Christian Brand 35-33 = 68, Bosten Miller 34-37 = 71, Justin Ray 48-45 = 93, Ravin Viradia 45-43 = 88, Joe Panzera 44-40 = 84.

PARKERSBURG 404: Jeff Cunningham 39-38 = 77, Ross Draber 38-37 = 75, Kyle Hines 45-38 = 83, Garrett Humphrey 44-43 = 87, Michael Johnson 42-40 = 82.

BOYD COUNTY 412: Quinn Cole 38-38 = 76, Tyler Sallie 37-38_75, Jordan Roberts 45-44 = 89, Justin Wheeler 38-41 = 79, Brent Smith 44-49 = 93.

ROBERT C. BYRD 413: Ian Hogue 41-41 = 82, Andrew Givens 37-40

= 77, Quinn Wymer 40-37 = 77, Stacy Rogers 39-42 = 81, Thomas Bailey 51-45 = 96.

SPRING VALLEY 414: Craig McGlothlin 37-36 = 73, Tyler Hill 40-40 = 80, Butchie Robinson 42-42 = 84, Matt McComas 46-39 = 85, Jake Dorsey 49-43 = 92.

CHESAPEAKE 427: P.J. Rase 38-39 = 77, Tyler Angle 44-40 = 84, Andrew Copley 45-47_92, Bryon Huff 38-44 = 82, Kyle Rase 46-46 = 92.

GREENBRIER EAST 428: Josh Boswell 33-35 = 68, Bobby Gilbert 45-40 = 85, Matt Bennett 42-46 = 88, Adam Eams 48-44 = 92, T.J. Knight 48-47 = 95.

WINFIELD 429: Chris Slack 39-43 = 82, Cam Bonham 45-39 = 84, J.T. Williams 48-45 = 93, Allie Lynch 42-40 = 82, Jake Winfield 50-38 = 88.

WILLIAMSTOWN 432: Craig Fenton 41-38 = 79, MacKenzie Peters 44-44 = 88, Rodney Shawver 38-42 = 80, Tyler Ullman 43-47 = 90, Clinton Nohe 47-48 = 95.

SOUTH POINT 433: Justin Lewis 41-40 = 81, Zach Norris 39-43 = 82, Kyle Hughes 43-40 = 83, Chase McWhorter 46-43 = 89, Josh Jones 49-49 = 98.

POCAHONTAS COUNTY 451: Dustin Cutlip 39-35 = 74, Justin Madron 44-46 = 90, Aaron Totten 53-43 = 96, Derek Jones 52-40 = 102, Daniel Lacasse 47-42 = 89.

RAVENSWOOD 452: Matt Knapp 43-42 = 85, Josh Hafer 44-47 = 91, Steve Burdette 41-47 = 88, Jesse Wolfe 42-43 = 85, Joel Miller 50-53_103.

ASHLAND 442: Gray Hunter 43-39 = 82, Stephen Limpaca 40-38 = 78, Rece Martin 45-42 = 87, Jeb Jarrell 53-52_105, Jordan Salyer 45-45 = 90.

y-GEORGE WASHINGTON 327: Cameron Payne 36-38 = 74, Andrew Whitney 44-45 = 89, Will Lively 35-38 = 73, Nick Mariani 44-47 = 91.

x-won medalist with par on first playoff hole.

y-only had four entries.