Season ends at regional

NEW CASTLE — Butch Gray knew his Jay County High School girls golf team was up against tough competition in Saturday’s regional tournament.
The course at Westwood Golf Club wasn’t favorable either.
Jay County posted its highest score of the season, finishing last in the 18-team regional tournament with a total of 424.
Hamilton Southeastern, which is ranked third in the state, edged 10th-ranked Columbus North 310-313 to win the regional title in back-to-back years. New Palestine was third with 324, one stroke ahead of Fishers for the final team spot.
Cathedral’s Betsy Werner was the tournament medalist, leading all golfers with a 68 and earning a berth in the state meet. Connersville’s Lindsey Hackleman (71), Emily Tilton of Pendelton Heights (76), Natalia Campbel of Lapel (76) and Greenwood’s Hannah Cross moved on as individuals.
The top three teams and top five individuals not on qualifying teams from each regional advance to state.
“It was frustrating,” said Gray, whose squad was just the third team in program history to advance past sectional. “After I had looked at the teams that were coming in … for some reason that course is not as easy as it looks when you look at the yardages.
“It was frustrating to the point, towards the end it got to ‘Let’s get done.’”
JCHS sophomore Sydney Mathias was the only Patriot to finish in double digits, shooting a 96. After having a 50 on the back nine and double bogeying the 340-yard, par-1 first, she saved par with a 25-foot downhill putt on the par-5 second.
Mathias was left with long par putts on the fourth and fifth holes, and two-putted for bogey on both as she was 4-over on the front through five holes.
On the 116-yard, par-3 sixth, her shot from the tee box was just short the green and about 12 feet from the pin. Opting for her wedge instead of her putter, the second shot had a little too much power and rolled to the middle of the green about 30 feet away from the cup.
But, like she did on the second, she made another long-distance putt to save par. Mathias was 1-over par on three of the four par-3s.
On the final three holes, however, the course took over. Mathias finished her round with a 5, 6, and 7 respectively, completing the front nine with a 46.
“She just struck the ball and played within herself,” Gray said of Mathias, the younger sister of Evan, a 2014 JCHS graduate and two-time regional qualifier. “She didn’t let the frustrating start get to her that much.
“I know she wanted to perform better. She’s been pretty steady … she had a little slump at the start (of the season) but she’s been steady since.”
Brooke Sanders, who led Jay County with a 93 in the sectional tournament at Crestview Golf Club, turned in the No. 2 score on the team with a 107. Malarie Houck and Maddison Baughn, both seniors, had identical scores of 111 to round out the Patriots’ team score. Junior Rachel Antrim shot a 122 as the No. 5 golfer.
“I’m gonna miss ‘em,” Gray said of his seniors. “Maddison … she’s been a pleasant player for four years. She’s had good leadership on and off the course when things needed to be done.”
As for Houck, who joined the golf team this year after spending the previous three fall seasons playing volleyball, Gray said having her contribute in her first year of competitive golf was a nice surprise.
“I wish she would have played more,” he said.