Highland defeats Patriots (08/23/05)

PORTLAND — The Patriots needed to shave just one more stroke.

Jay County’s girls golf team played its first of three home matches this season Monday at Portland Golf Club. The home course advantage nearly paid off, but the Anderson Highland Scots escaped with a 228-229 victory.

“I think we let one get a way,” said JCHS coach Tom Ferguson, whose team is now 0-2 in dual meets heading into today’s match against South Adams. “This is definitely a match we should have won tonight.”

Trisha Champ earned medalist honors on the night, finishing one stroke better than fellow sophomore Katie Windlan of Highland. Her 41 matched her season average, which is down six strokes from last season.

Champ got off to a slow start with bogeys on each of the first four holes before coming back on the next four. She nailed consecutive pars on the 349-yard, par-4 fifth hole and the 401-yard, par-5 sixth.

After a bogey on No. 7 she notched her third par of the day on the 119-yard, par-3 ninth and then finished the round with a bogey.

Ashley Bunch posted the No. 2 score for Jay County, a 57, which is six strokes better than she averaged last season.

“At this point I would say Ashley and Trisha are in a competition for most improved golfer,” said Ferguson. “They both work hard at it ... and want to improve.”

Bunch, whose personal-best score is a 53 in the Patriots only other dual meet this year against Tri, was on pace for the best round of her career through the first five holes.

She opened with a bogey on the 275-yard, par-4 first hole, and added another on the 284-yard, par-4 third. She posted sixes on holes 2, 4 and 5, giving her just 28 strokes through five holes.

However the longest hole of the day, the 401-yard, par-5 sixth, caught up with her and she needed 29 strokes to complete the final four holes for her 57.

Ferguson said the key to Bunch’s improvement this season has been in the short game.

“... Her chipping has gotten a lot better and her putting has gotten a lot better,” he said. “She’s able to read the greens this year where last year she really struggled getting lined up. This year she’s a lot softer from within 100 yards.”

Alissa McMillan accounted for two of the Patriots’ other three bogeys on the day, shooting 1-over on the first and eighth holes. Rachael Osterholt also had a bogey on No. 1.

McMillan posted a 63, and Brittney Lewis rounded out the team score with a 68. Osterholt finished with a 70.

Junior varsity

Jay County’s junior varsity squad posted all personal-best scores en route to a team total of 251. Anderson Highland did not have any JV players.

Brittany Schlater had the top score, a 59, which would have been good for third on the varsity team. She was the only Patriot other than Champ to notch a par on the day as she landed her tee shot on the green on the 113-yard, par-3 second and two-putted.

Schlater also had a bogey on the sixth hole.

Ivy Simons followed with a 62, and Amanda Barnett posted a 63. Jennifer Hunt and Cindy Muhlenkamp each finished at 67, Alex Bunch had a 76 and Amy Nichols shot 81.[[In-content Ad]]