Patriots place 2nd

The first three golfers for the Patriots and Scots were a perfect match.

The No. 1s each shot 76, the No. 2s 85 and the No. 3s 78. Those scores left it up to the final two players on each team to decide the battle, and Adam Mescher came through.

The Jay County High School junior, playing in just his second varsity competition, shot 81 to give the Patriots the runner-up spot in Monday's Olympic Athletic Conference tournament at Portland Golf Club.

Connersville ran away with the title with a score of 299. Mescher's score completed the best round of the year for JCHS at 320, and Anderson Highland was four strokes back in third.

Muncie Southside rounded out the first at 364.

"I'm pleasantly surprised," said Jay County coach Butch Gray, whose team trailed Highland by six strokes at the turn. "I'm proud of them for the way they bounced back."

The Patriots shot 155 on the back nine to rally for second place. They were 13 strokes better in the OAC tournament than at Saturday's New Castle Invitational.

Adam Gray earned all-conference honors for the fourth straight year, finishing tied for fifth place with Austin Stagman of the Scots with a 76.

Mike Schnelle of Connersville earned the conference title with a 72. His teammates Cole Adams (73) and Daniel Fischesser (75) were second and third respectively.

"Connersville is just solid," said Butch Gray. "If they've got one falter, they've got somebody else who can pick them up."

Mescher, who carded an 89 at New Castle, lifted the Patriots to the runner-up finish with a solid and steady round.

He was 4-over-par after the first three holes, but then parred four of the next five on the way to a 41 on the front nine. He had four more pars on the back nine, just missing a fifth as his putt on the 18th green barely missed falling into the cup.

Mescher had just one double-bogey in his round, on the 176-yard, par-3 second hole. He notched back-to-back pars on three different occasions.

"He's learned to, I think, control his emotions," said Gray. "His tempo is better. He has slowed his swing down where he's just making good contact. He hits the ball pretty straight and he's been doing that pretty consistently."

Adam Gray had some putting woes early, settling for three-putts three times on the front nine. He still shot 39, and then he steadied his putter on the back nine.

After bogeys on the 10th and 11th holes, Gray played the final seven holes of the day at even par. He was 1-under on 14 through 18 with a birdie on the 520-yard, par-5 14th.

"He was trying to be to fine early, but then just relaxed and played," said Butch Gray of his son. "He almost had a chance to have a 75. He had a beautiful tee shot on 18, but then the putt just didn't fall for him."

Wellman had the only birdie on a par three for the Patriots in the tournament during an outstanding run to start the back nine.

After pars on the 10th, 11th and 12 holes, the senior hit his birdie putt on the 150-yard, par-3 13th.

He had 10 pars in his round, the most for any JCHS player, as he just missed all-conference honors by finishing in a tie for sixth.

"I'm really happy for Chase," said Butch Gray. "He has been struggling at some times, but comes in with a nice 78."

Adam Horn rounded out the team score with an 85. He had a run of four pars in five holes on the back nine.

Drew Houck totaled four pars in his round of 90 before hitting his shot of the day on No. 17. After leaving his second shot on the 344-yard, par-4 hole about 15 yards short of the green, he chipped on and watched his shot roll in for a birdie.

Jay County's score on the back nine marked the first time the team had broken the 160-mark this season. The total of 320 would have been good enough to earn them a third-place finish, and a regional berth, in the 2008 sectional.

"I think it's real important. Now we can build on this," said Gray. "Mentally, if you know you can do it ... it's a comfort zone. They realize they've got other players who can help them."[[In-content Ad]]