May 23, 2016 at 5:37 p.m.
Patriots second in ACAC tourney
Hayden has breakout round as JC is runner-up
NEW HAVEN — Give the Patriots nine holes, and beating Bluffton is no problem.
Extend a match to 18, and the Tigers have their number.
Bluffton fought off the Jay County High School boys golf team in an 18-hole event for the second time this season Saturday, knocking off the Patriots by four strokes to win the Allen County Athletic Conference Tournament title at Whispering Creek Golf Club.
It was an unsatisfying result for Jay County, which swept its way through the ACAC to win the round-robin title. That effort included a 12-stroke victory over Bluffton on April 29.
“I’m disappointed,” said JCHS coach Butch Gray, whose team also finished second to Bluffton at the South Adams Invitational on April 23. “Since you win the round-robin, you think you have a chance (to win the tournament).
“Maybe that will be something that spurs us on a little bit for sectional.”
South Adams, which was without David Muselman because of a prior commitment, placed fourth behind Bluffton, Jay County and Heritage (359) with a score of 389.
“I was pleased with McGerran (Clouser) and Jacob (Rife),” said SAHS coach Kevin McClung of his top players who both finished at 86. “They had a couple bad holes. Otherwise they’re up there maybe trying to be medalists. …
“We missed David Muselman today, but all-in-all, I’m pleased with the round.”
While the team result left the Patriots wanting more, the tournament provided the breakout day Nick Hayden has been looking for all season.
The junior has struggled to find his game for most of the year, finishing with Jay County’s No. 5 score in 11 out of 12 outings prior to Saturday’s tournament. But after playing at 1-over-par for the first three holes at Whispering Creek, he got his spark.
Hayden’s drive on the straight-away, 410-yard, par-4 8th settled in the rough on the right side of the fairway 126 yards away from the hole. He pulled out his A wedge and proceeded to hit the shot of his life.
The ball landed on the front part of the green and zipped straight for the hole and in for an eagle.
“There was a lot of things going on (in my head),” said Hayden. “At first I was like, ‘OK, calm down. I’ve got tons more holes to play.’
“And then I screamed a little bit. … It felt amazing.
“I don’t think I’ve hit another shot that beautiful, ever.”
Hayden went on to add a birdie, one of just two on the day for the Patriots, on the 339-yard, par-4 second hole. He hit a solid drive on the dogleg right, put his second shot on the green and connected on his first putt.
He went on the play consistent golf the rest of the way, recording six pars. He was the only JCHS player to score six or better on every hole, finishing third in the conference with an 83.
It was the culmination of improved play over the last few weeks, as he had recorded season-best scores in three of his previous four nine-hole rounds.
“It’s been rough. All season’s just been a struggle,” said Hayden. “To finally find it, it feels great to shoot a low score.”
His play on the greens Saturday was key, as he needed just 13 putts on the back nine.
“The key to the putting was just to keep it short,” he said. “You can’t go long on any hole.”
Bluffton had the top two scores on the day, with Eli Kitt posting an 81 to earn the conference title and Spencer Schwartz following with an 82.
Jay Houck followed Hayden with an 84 for fourth place for the Patriots. He recorded a team-best 10 pars, including three in the final four holes.
Kyler Hudson and Collin Haines each had eight pars as they rounded out the JCHS team score with matching 87s.
Clouser parred each of his first four holes en route to his 88 for the Starfires. Rife had the lone birdie for South Adams to go along with a team-best seven pars.
Dexter Miller had two pars in his round of 99, and Zach Colpaert shot a 118.
Extend a match to 18, and the Tigers have their number.
Bluffton fought off the Jay County High School boys golf team in an 18-hole event for the second time this season Saturday, knocking off the Patriots by four strokes to win the Allen County Athletic Conference Tournament title at Whispering Creek Golf Club.
It was an unsatisfying result for Jay County, which swept its way through the ACAC to win the round-robin title. That effort included a 12-stroke victory over Bluffton on April 29.
“I’m disappointed,” said JCHS coach Butch Gray, whose team also finished second to Bluffton at the South Adams Invitational on April 23. “Since you win the round-robin, you think you have a chance (to win the tournament).
“Maybe that will be something that spurs us on a little bit for sectional.”
South Adams, which was without David Muselman because of a prior commitment, placed fourth behind Bluffton, Jay County and Heritage (359) with a score of 389.
“I was pleased with McGerran (Clouser) and Jacob (Rife),” said SAHS coach Kevin McClung of his top players who both finished at 86. “They had a couple bad holes. Otherwise they’re up there maybe trying to be medalists. …
“We missed David Muselman today, but all-in-all, I’m pleased with the round.”
While the team result left the Patriots wanting more, the tournament provided the breakout day Nick Hayden has been looking for all season.
The junior has struggled to find his game for most of the year, finishing with Jay County’s No. 5 score in 11 out of 12 outings prior to Saturday’s tournament. But after playing at 1-over-par for the first three holes at Whispering Creek, he got his spark.
Hayden’s drive on the straight-away, 410-yard, par-4 8th settled in the rough on the right side of the fairway 126 yards away from the hole. He pulled out his A wedge and proceeded to hit the shot of his life.
The ball landed on the front part of the green and zipped straight for the hole and in for an eagle.
“There was a lot of things going on (in my head),” said Hayden. “At first I was like, ‘OK, calm down. I’ve got tons more holes to play.’
“And then I screamed a little bit. … It felt amazing.
“I don’t think I’ve hit another shot that beautiful, ever.”
Hayden went on to add a birdie, one of just two on the day for the Patriots, on the 339-yard, par-4 second hole. He hit a solid drive on the dogleg right, put his second shot on the green and connected on his first putt.
He went on the play consistent golf the rest of the way, recording six pars. He was the only JCHS player to score six or better on every hole, finishing third in the conference with an 83.
It was the culmination of improved play over the last few weeks, as he had recorded season-best scores in three of his previous four nine-hole rounds.
“It’s been rough. All season’s just been a struggle,” said Hayden. “To finally find it, it feels great to shoot a low score.”
His play on the greens Saturday was key, as he needed just 13 putts on the back nine.
“The key to the putting was just to keep it short,” he said. “You can’t go long on any hole.”
Bluffton had the top two scores on the day, with Eli Kitt posting an 81 to earn the conference title and Spencer Schwartz following with an 82.
Jay Houck followed Hayden with an 84 for fourth place for the Patriots. He recorded a team-best 10 pars, including three in the final four holes.
Kyler Hudson and Collin Haines each had eight pars as they rounded out the JCHS team score with matching 87s.
Clouser parred each of his first four holes en route to his 88 for the Starfires. Rife had the lone birdie for South Adams to go along with a team-best seven pars.
Dexter Miller had two pars in his round of 99, and Zach Colpaert shot a 118.
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