Eagles defeat Jay County

The Patriots were just a stroke off of the score they posted in their first dual meet.

That was good enough for a win over Wapahani Thursday. Against Delta, it left them well short.

The Jay County High School boys golf team slipped to 1-1 Monday suffering a 154-186 loss at Portland Golf Club as the top four varsity players for the Eagles all posted scores in the 30s.

Drew Houck was the only Patriot to post more than two pars in his round as he opened with one on the 348-yard, par-4 10th hole. He added three more in a row on the 14th, 15th and 16th on the way to a team-best score of 42.

"He pretty much keeps the ball in play all the time," said JCHS coach Butch Gray of his junior No. 1 player. "He can get it up and down. ...

"He's got a great temperament for the game. ... The others have still got to learn that mental control that you need for this game."

Each of the top four Delta players came in under Houck, with Austin Kreps and Blake Wurthrich each shooting 38. Teddy Dawson and Matt Fisher finished with matching 39s for the Eagles (2-1).

Adam Mescher posted the second-best score for Jay County.

The senior picked up five bogies on the first eight holes before hitting his tee shot on the 178-yard, par-3 18th to the back lip of the green. His downhill put missed just an inch to the right of the hole, and he tapped in for his only par of the day to finish with a 46.

"Mescher had a good tournament (Saturday), but the problem is following it up this week," said Butch, noting Mescher's front-nine 38 at the Bellmont Invitational. "I thought he got to where he ... lost his concentration and his tempo. He let some things distract him. ... (The mental) part of the game is very, very important."

Austin Mann came up with his only par on the 344-yard, par-4 18th hole and added four bogies as he finished with a 48.

Mitchel Rigby turned in back-to-back pars on the 498-yard, par-5 12th hole and the 150-yard, par-3 13th as and teammate Evan Ryder each finished with 50s.

Gray has used different golfers in the final three spots in the lineup over the team's first four events, and he said he will continue to do so.

"We could draw them out of a hat," he said. "I'd say there's about five to seven guys who are still vying for those spots. Its just (finding out) who can be consistent ...

"One thing I tried to tell them early on was, 'Play every hole to bogey it and you'll be better off.' ...

"We're still a work in progress. We're trying to find the combination that can really help us as the year goes on.

"I do love the attitude of the kids. ... They want to get better. ... Some of them just hang on every word trying to do what you want them to do."

Junior varsity

The Patriots had one score in the 40s as they fell 189-201 to Delta.

Ritchie Carducci powered Jay County with a 46, posting his lone par on the 10th hole. Brian Schink led Delta with a 45, and Seth Neal posted a 49.

Seth Ainsworth and Jacob Heitkamp each shot 51 for the Patriots, and Justen Keller completed the team score with a 53. Matt Segraves finished at 65.[[In-content Ad]]