JC splits, now 9-2

The 18th-ranked team in the state proved too strong for the Patriots. However, they were still able to walk away with one win Tuesday.
Jay County High School’s girls golf team finished with a 192 to defeat the Wes-Del Warriors (262) while falling to the No. 18 Yorktown Tigers (167).
“The 192 on the front side (is pretty good),” said JCHS coach Butch Gray, whose team has been consistent with scores of 192, 194, 190 and 192 in its last four outings. “It was tough out there tonight, especially early, because the wind was blowing so hard.
“I knew this was going to be tough, with Yorktown, one of the best team’s we’ve played. And Thursday night we go right back into the meat grinder with Delta. They have not lost a dual match.”
The victory over Wes-Del lifted the Patriots to 9-2 on the year, while the loss to Yorktown was their first since dropping their opening dual to Anderson. They are just three wins away from the single-season school record set in 1990 with five teams still remaining on the schedule.
The first of those matches is Thursday against Delta, which shot 180 to defeat Monroe Central Tuesday. Jay County’s best score of the year is a 185.
Senior Abby Denney led the Patriots against the Tigers and Warriors as she got off to a solid start at Portland Golf Club. After a bogey on the opening hole she parred each of the next two and held a three-stroke advantage over Yorktown No. 1 player Kennedy Windlan.
Denney struggled on the dogleg fourth hole, but came back to notch two pars and three bogeys on the final five for a 42.
“The thing I think she (is great with) every time is her demeanor,” said Gray. “She doesn’t have short term memory. If she has a bad shot, if it effects her, I don’t see it. She just goes out and plays her game.”
Tara Clark of the Tigers earned medalist honors with a 37.
Windlan, a state-qualifier as a freshman last season, had an interesting day en route to a 40. After watching a Wes-Del junior varsity player get stuck in the mud around the pond between No. 7 and No. 2, she hit her first shot on the 113-yard, par-3 second hole into the pond bed just short of the green. She tried to play the ball out of the hazard, taking her shoes and socks off and sinking about a foot into the mud to do so, and ending up taking a triple bogey.   
Melanie Whitesel led Wes-Del with a 62.
Cara Garringer was at 2-over-par for the Patriots after notching the team’s only birdie of the day on the 284-yard, par-4 fourth hole.
She also finished with back-to-back pars on the eighth and ninth for a 45.
“Cara was controlling the ball better,” Gray said. “She’s shortened her back-swing, so the stroke looked better for her.”
Macey Gerber also hit her best shot of the day on the third hole on her third shot from about 50 yards out. The ball landed within four feet of the hole, took one small hop and stopped. She rolled in the putt for a par and also had four bogeys in her round of 51.
Brittany Stevens completed the JCHS team score with a 54. Her lone par came on the 349-yard, par-5 sixth hole, and she also had a bogey on No. 1.
She finished just ahead of Whitney Gray (56). Alysia Fennig shot 59.
“Those three girls are pushing each other,” said Gray of the trio fighting for the No. 4 scoring position on the team. “It’s a nice little competition that’s going on.”[[In-content Ad]]