Patriot girls take second

GENEVA — Erika Heitkamp had her first birdie of the season.

Teammate Abby Huey was on top of her game, too.

As a squad, Jay County stayed within striking distance of the other Patriots.

Huey shot a 44 and Heitkamp was one stroke behind as the Jay County High School girls golf team took second Monday in a four-team, Allen County Athletic Conference tilt at Wabash Valley Golf Club.

“I think they’re doing great,” said first-year JCHS coach Trisha Green. “They’re working so hard. This morning some of them came out and were hitting golf balls before the meet. As a coach I couldn’t ask for more than that.”

Heritage, led by Carley Rodenbeck’s 42, won with a team score of 189. Jay County shot 195 for second, Woodlan fired 224 for third and host South Adams was fourth with 243.

Huey, one of three JCHS seniors, bounced back from a rough start on her first two holes, the par-4 fourth and fifth, to make par on the sixth and seventh holes, which were also par 4s. She closed her round by shooting par again on the first and second holes before capping her round with a bogey.

Heitkamp also had a shaky start to her round, but had her one shining moment on the par-4, 308-yard sixth hole. Her tee shot was just off the left of the fairway, but she still had a good lie.

Her second shot, from about 130 yards out, stopped on the green about 8 feet from the pin, and the senior lefty sank her putt for birdie.

“That’s awesome,” Green said. “It boosts her confidence. I wish I was there to see it. That’s good for her. I was happy for her.”

Raquel Wehrly, who was grouped with Huey and Heitkamp, ended with 50, and Paityn Chapman rounded out the Patriots’ team score with 56.

Sisters Jacqueline and Rosealynne Smith also competed, but they did not factor into the team score. They shot 57 and 67 respectively.

“They’re out there, they’re trying, they’re putting forth the effort,” Green said of her youngsters. “They’re putting work in in practice.”