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Bradshaw goes after another West Virginia Open golf title

By Bob Madison - For the Chronicle | Jul 28, 2023

Jefferson County native David Bradshaw is pictured here, following his win of the 88th West Virginia Open Championship in 2021. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — A baker’s dozen refers to the number 13.

Jefferson County native David Bradshaw would like to earn himself a baker’s dozen this week, when he competes in another West Virginia Open golf tournament. This yearly event is being staged in Charleston from July 26 through July 28.

Bradshaw is a graduate of Jefferson High School and Shepherd University, and is properly enshrined in the Shepherd Athletic Hall of Fame.

Beginning with his Open title in 2004, Bradshaw has totaled 12 championships in all. He finished second last summer to Christian Brand, himself a three-time winner of the event.

Brand posted a three-round championship score with his 10-under par last year. Bradshaw finished his three rounds with a seven-under score, which was four shots better than third-place finisher Thadd Obecny.

Now 40, after celebrating his last birthday in April, Bradshaw has rarely missed winning an Open championship since distancing himself from the field in 2004.

He’s won this tournament in country club settings and even Oglebay State Park in Wheeling. Bradshaw championships have come in Bridgeport, Parkersburg, Daniels, Sissonville, Hurricane and Morgantown. He has claimed titles at both the Pines Country Club and Lakeview Country Club in Morgantown.

In winning in 2004, Bradshaw was still an amateur, not turning professional until 2006 when he won his second title.

Bradshaw lived in Bakerton when attending Jefferson High School and Shepherd University, but has in more recent years resided in southern California.

His 12 Open championships place him second all-time, behind the 17 championships won by PGA Hall of Fame golfer Sam Snead.

Bradshaw will have to get past Brand and Obecny, among others this week in Charleston, because they are in the 2023 field.

Last year, Bradshaw found himself behind after the first round and could never quite overcome Brand in the end.

Other than returning to West Virginia for this mid-summer event, the closest Bradshaw usually comes to this area is when he participates in a tournament in Pittsburgh, Pa. He has also played in Canada on a professional circuit in that country.

He now has a dozen West Virginia Open titles, and would like to add another here in 2023 to make it a baker’s dozen and move within four championships of the number of titles Snead secured, in his many years as one of the state’s favored sons.