BARNESVILLE'S Payne Johnson plays on the 18th hole in Thursday's OVAC Class 3A Tournament.

WHEELING — As any veteran coach would do, Jerry Robinson did his best this week to shield his Barnesville golf team from any pressure that came along with the quest to repeat as OVAC Class 3A champions.

The plan worked to a tee.

The Shamrocks posted an impressive 301 at Oglebay Park’s warm and sunny Crispin Course Thursday afternoon to bring their second consecutive conference championship back to western Belmont County.

“I tried to absorb the pressure, but the kids knew we were the favorite or the ones being hunted,” Robinson said. “We knew Linsly was hungry and plays well here, but I did all I could to try to deflect the pressure and play it low key. The kids knew what was at stake.”

The Shamrocks did receive quite a battle from the Cadets. Linsly finished with an impressive 303 to take the runner-up plaque. Third place went to Fort Frye, which hung a 333 on the board. Buckeye Trail was fourth with a 335 and Magnolia was fifth with a 345.

Barnesville, which now owns three OVAC titles in golf, set the tone early thanks to the fine play of senior standout Payne Johnson.

Johnson and his playing group, which included runner-up medalist Trey Blain of Magnolia, Linsly’s Ryan Dembiczak and Crestview’s Ethan McCloskey, needed just over three hours to complete their rounds.

“There was some impressive golf being played in that group,” Robinson said.

Indeed.

Johnson — by virtue of a par on the 18th — won his second straight OVAC medalist crown with a solid round of 2-under, 69.

He knocked home a par putt after Blain, who was battling stroke for stroke all day, watched a par just go by the hole. He tapped in for par, setting the stage for Johnson to repeat.

“It feels good (to win individually), but getting the team championship again makes it even better,” Johnson said. “I shot 72 here last year, which was good, but I am very happy with how I played today.”

Johnson made the turn at 38 and caught fire on the backside of the course, which is extremely getable. Actually, he began to turn it on when he got a lengthy putt to drop on the ninth for a birdie. It seemed to ignite Johnson, who proceeded to knock down four birdies and nary a bogey on the backside.

“I came into the round wanting to shoot around even par on the front, but that didn’t happen because I had a couple of bad holes,” Johnson said. “When I made (the putt) on nine, I knew I was just about to tear it up.”

Though Johnson won his group and defeated Blain, there were some anxious moments for him. He had to wait several minutes until any other groups came back. One of the next groups back included Barnesville’s number two player senior Jim Byler.

Byler signed for a round of 1-under 70 and earned a spot in a runner-up medalist playoff with Blain.

“I honestly thought Jim was going to come in with a 68 or something like that, which would have been great to see,” Johnson said. “We all knew coming into the tournament that we had a target on our back and we’d have to play well.”

With Johnson and Byler’s scores on the board, the Shamrocks’ waited for other scores. Sophomore Carter Wells posted a 79 and Dryden Bauman was the fourth score at 83. The Rocks’ fifth score was an 88 by Jude Hannahs.

“I felt pretty confident about our two seniors,” Robinson said. “I told them they’d have to carry us. You win something like this with your seniors and the one-two punch of Johnson and Byler are something else. I am most pleased with our three, four and five guys because they really played well and came through.”

Blain and Byler played off for the runner-up plaque. Blain posted a birdie on the first hole to take the award.

The Cadets — like the Shamrocks — had two players on the all-OVAC squad, which includes top five and ties. Dembiczak and Aiden Grubler, who shot a 75, were recognized.