Devils defeat Jay Co. (08/27/04)

PORTLAND — A round couldn’t start much better than Brianne Morrical’s did Thursday.

The Jay County senior opened with a birdie on the way to a career best score, but the Patriots dropped a 169-217 decision to the Richmond Red Devils.

Morrical, and Jay County No. 1 player Trisha Champ, hit their drives on the first hole at Portland Country Club to within one foot of each other in the right rough. Morrical smacked her second shot onto the green near the back edge, and then hit her best shot of the day.

The Patriots’ No. 2 tapped a long, curving putt, rolling it in to the right-front pin placement from 35 to 40 feet away. The birdie on the 275-yard hole was just the second of her career on a par-4 as she went on to a career-best overall score of 49.

“That’s super,” said Jay County coach Tom Ferguson. “That’s her second birdie of her career on a par-4, and on a putt like that.

“I think she was real pleased with the way she played except for the last couple holes putting. She shot a 49, which could have easily been a 45.”

Morrical stayed solid through the first four holes, using just 18 strokes to match Champ. She started to have trouble on No. 5, using three puts as she played the hole at 3-over par.

She three-putted on four of the final five holes, but still came in with her lowest score ever.

Champ was also at 18 strokes after four holes, thanks to her par-4 on the 290-yard, par-4 fourth hole.

The freshman hit a perfect drive, cutting over the corner of the soy bean field on the dog-leg left, leaving her ball in the center of the fairway and about 10 yards short of the green. She left a nice chip under the hole to give herself an uphill put, and two-putted for the par.

She added a second par on the 401 yard sixth hole after launching her drive right down the middle of the fairway. She was on the green in two more shots and again two-putted for her second par.

At that point Champ was on pace for a career-best score, but her driver proved to be too much club on No. 7 as her tee shot went into the water. She recovered for a double-bogey six, and finished a stroke off her best with a 44.

Champ has led the Patriots in scoring at every meet this year.

“She’s doing a super job,” said Ferguson. “She has a super attitude. She practices hard and she doesn’t ever complain. She’s just a great athlete.

“I think she wishes she could shoot a little bit better every time, which is good. I think that is going to help her. She wants to do better.”

Champ was bested by a trio of Richmond golfers Thursday as Molly Keifer led the Red Devils with a 40. Alex Bell and Sarah Habschmidt each finished with 42s.

Ali Duke rounded out the team score with a 45, and Natalie Koditek had a 50.

Shonda Sutton came in with the No. 3 score for Jay County, despite a difficult end to her round. She had trouble chipping onto the No. 9 green as she took an eight, but carded a 57. Katey Kohler struggled early in her round, but finished strong with a bogey on the final hole for a 67.

Miranda Denney finished with a 68.

“I’m pleased that they’re starting to show improvement,” said Ferguson, who said making smart shots will be one of the keys for his squad. “It’s finally coming. Our consistency could be a little bit better. We still just need a fourth player to be consistent.”

Jay County will host Winchester and Randolph Southern Tuesday at 4:15 p.m.

Junior varsity

The Patriots also fell in junior varsity action to Richmond.

The Red Devils were led by Emily Gore, who matched Keifer for the best score of the night with a 40.

Alissa McMillan paced Jay County with a 58. Ashley Bunch shot 71, and Amanda Barnett had an 82.[[In-content Ad]]