Golfers fall to Devils

Their first action at Portland Golf Club didn’t go as well as the Patriots would have liked. They’re hoping two more rounds will have them ready to defend their home course when all of their new conference rivals come to town Sept. 6.
The Jay County High School girls golf team, which will host the Allen County Athletic Conference Tournament at PGC, posted its second-highest nine-hole score of the season Thursday in a 184-215 loss to the visiting Richmond Red Devils.
“We need consistency, consistency, consistency,” said JCHS coach Butch Gray, whose team was coming off of a season-best 191 Tuesday at Golf Club of the Limberlost in Geneva. “We’ve also got to start thinking with a positive attitude instead of just letting one shot or two shots affect the entire round. They’re better than they’re showing.”
After having three players score in the 40s just two days earlier, Brooke Sanders paced the Patriots with a 50 Thursday.
Three Richmond golfers broke 50, with No. 1 player Kayla Owens tallying a birdie and four pars to lead the way and earn medalist honors with a 6-over-par 41.
Sanders played the most consistent round for JCHS, which had its highest score since posting a 219 Aug. 12 against Leo and Adams Central at Cedar Creek Golf Club.
“She’s been a nice move-in,” said Gray. “She’s been pretty consistent in those low 50s most matches. She’s one that does come out and work at it.”
The junior newcomer to the squad finished without a par, but also avoided the big numbers that plagued her teammates. She closed strong, recording bogies on each of her final three holes, including the 289-yard, par-4 10th.
Sanders decided to stay conservative on that final hole, leaving her tee shot short of the creek that crosses the fairway. She went on to hit a downhill putt from about 3 feet away to close her team-best round.
“I had some really great drives,” said Sanders. “I’ve been struggling with my driver lately, and I started hitting some really straight shots. I was really proud of myself.”
Malarie Houck, the team’s other first-year varsity player Thursday, struggled on her opening hole but was able to fight back to follow Sanders with a 51.
The senior, who had not played golf before this summer, took a 10 as she opened on the 10th hole, but bounced back to par the 260-yard, par-4 11th. She added three bogeys before reaching the 178-yard, par-3 18th.
Houck’s first shot on her final hole of the night went off line and rolled down the hill on the left side of the green. But she hit her chip to within about 3 feet and then rolled in her second par putt of the evening.
“I don’t really think I was focused the first few holes,” said Houck, who had half of her team’s four pars. “The last few holes, before I hit the ball I just made myself think, ‘Keep your head down. Left arm straight.’ All that beginning stuff. That helped.”
Senior Maddison Baughn, who posted a season-best 43 Tuesday at Golf Club of the Limberlost, recorded her lone par of the day on the 11th hole. She also had one bogey as she finished with a 56.
Sydney Mathias and Abby Saxman posted matching scores of 58 to round out the team total.
Mackenzie Spurrier followed Owens for Richmond with a 44, Angela Roggero followed with a 45 and Alex Livesay shot 54. The Red Devils’ top four players totaled one birdie, 10 pars and 11 bogies.
Jay County will play again on its home course Tuesday against Fort Recovery and Winchester and Thursday against Bluffton before hosting the ACAC Tournament Sept. 6.

Junior varsity
Jay County turned in a team total of 216 while the Red Devils did not have a junior varsity squad.
Rachel Antrim led the Patriots, matching the top varsity score with a 50. She had four bogies in a stretch of five holes from No. 10 through 14.
Carlie Wickey shot a 53, Sydney Robbins finished at 55 and Cassie Reno added a 58.