Full squad returns for '10

Near-misses have been the story in recent years for the Jay County High School girls golf team.
In each of the last two seasons, seniors Cara Garringer and Abby Denney have fallen just short of regional berths. In 2008, Denney was just one shot away from advancing while Garringer fell short by two. Both missed out by just two strokes last season.
With those two leaders returning to lead a team that was untouched by graduation, the Patriots have hopes this season to not only break through individually for the first time since 2006 but to earn a team regional berth as well.
“Of course we have high hopes with everybody coming back,” said Butch Gray, who is in his second year coaching the girls team. “Any time you’ve got a group that’s been there, they aren’t in awe or surprised at what they’re seeing. And they’ve been to these courses that we’re playing. They remember all of them. And sectional, they’ve been through that.”
Gray’s squad opened its season Monday, finishing 10th at the Richmond Invitational with a score of 440. They only finished ahead of New Castle (461) in the 11-team field, but were playing without Garringer and fellow senior Macey Gerber in their first outing of the year.
“They would have made a big difference in the score,” said Gray, whose team still shot four strokes better than last season.
Richmond, which opens the season ranked fourth in the state, won the tournament with a 318. Union County was second at 350, and Hagerstown (387) placed third.
Each of the Patriots’ top three players Monday improved upon their scores from the Richmond Invitational last season, with Denney leading the way. She shot 87 at Highland Lake Golf Course, which was 13 strokes better than her effort last season.
The senior was the No. 1 player for JCHS in 2009, posting a career-best 39 in late August against Richmond. And she finished strong in the sectional with a birdie on No. 17 and a par on 18 to post a 95 and fall just short of a trip to the regional.
Garringer and Gerber will return to the No. 2 and 3 spots in the lineup respectively.
Garringer frequently claimed the top score last season, sharing it with Denney at both the Olympic Athletic Conference Tournament (93) and the sectional. Her biggest challenge this season will be coming back from a knee injury suffered in the first game of the basketball season last year.
Gerber finished with a 101 at the 2009 sectional tournament.
“Abby’s strong part of her game usually is off of the tee,” said Gray. “She’s got pretty good distance.
“All three of those girls are pretty strong off the tee.”
Brittany Stevens and Whitney Gray round out the rest of the returning starting lineup. Both improved on their scores from Richmond last season, Stevens by seven strokes with a 112 and Gray by eight with a 115.
Alysia Fennig added a 126 at Richmond, and Cortney Myers added a 133.
Freshman Katlin Petro also joins the squad for the 2010 season.
“I would like to be able to advance out of the sectional,” said Gray. “I know with Norwell and Canterbury and some of those it’s not going to be real easy ... But I think it’s a doable thing for them.”[[In-content Ad]]