Strong finish gets the win

CELINA, Ohio — It’s not always how you start but how you finish.

Three Patriot girls overcame sluggish starts during a round of slow play on the Jay County High School girls golf team, winning first place for the second consecutive day on Tuesday at Celina Lynx Golf Club.

“I was really happy,” said JCHS coach Trisha Green, whose team finished with a score of 210. South Adams was second with 247, and Adams Central didn’t qualify for a team score.

“They all finished really strong,” Green added, “especially Raquel (Wehrly), Abby (Huey) and Erika (Heitkamp).”

Forced to play behind a weeknight men’s league at the course, all three teams were often backed up on the tee box and unable to get into any sort of rhythm. Hot temperatures made for a long, steamy evening.

All five Patriot players were plus-14 on the first hole alone and plus-10 on the par-5 second.

Erika Heitkamp made par on the short par-3 third, where many other players put their shot from the tee box into the water nearly completely surrounding the green. Heikamp’s next three holes went double bogey, triple bogey and bogey before she ended with three consecutive bogeys.

Her strong finish helped her shoot 48 and earn match medalist honors for the evening.

“Even though she shot 48 she’s not happy with that,” Green said. “She still wants to do better.”

Wehrly was one stroke behind Heitkamp, and her round included shooting even on the par-3 seventh hole. She had made five consecutive bogeys before her par.

Abby Huey struggled at the start as well, but she too ended her round better than how it began. She was the lone Patriot to par the ninth hole and turned in a 51.

“This is a tougher course than what they’re used to,” Green said. The Patriots, Starfires and Mary Jones, the lone Adams Central player, will return to Celina Lynx for the Allen County Athletic Conference tournament on Sept. 12.

Jacqueline Smith and Paityn Chapman shot 62 and 66, respectively, but they did not factor into the team score.

Tuesday’s victory marked back-to-back matches the Patriots (4-1) took first in three-team duals after losing the first of the season to Muncie Central on Aug. 13.

“I think they are getting more competitive,” said Green, whose team hosts the Richmond Red Devils at 5 p.m. Thursday at Portland Golf Club. “I think they want to win (and) they realize how good they can be.

“I think they’re getting excited. They’re actually asking to practice more. They’re wanting to play better.”