Jay Co. defeats Golden Falcons (08/30/06)

Those numbers in the 190s are becoming common.

For the third time in four matches Tuesday the Jay County girls golf team shot under 200 as a team, picking up their second victory of the season. The Patriots came away with a 194-199 victory over the Winchester Golden Falcons at Portland Golf Club.

"I thought if we played well we'd give ourselves a chance," said JCHS coach Tom Ferguson, noting that Winchester's scores had been consistently better than his own squad's thus far this season. "I'm pleased with the way we finally played our home course. It was nice posting four scores in the low 50s or better."

Junior Trisha Champ paced Jay County as she shot a 4-over-par 39 on the back nine at PGC to earn match medalist honors. Winchester's top score was a 44 from Chelsea Hawley.

Champ opened with a bogey as she started on the par-5 12th hole, then racked up six birdies in a row as she headed to the clubhouse. She holed out a chip on the 125-yard, par-3 15th to save par, and just missed on several birdie putts.

She finished with a bogey and double bogey on the final two holes (10 and 11) to shoot eight strokes better than Thursday's round at PGC where she endured three penalty strokes on the front nine.

"That's a good clean round," said Ferguson. "She gave herself four or five birdie opportunities that were make-able putts. ... Our goal is to give herself the opportunity to score. So that was nice."

With Champ leading the way, the push into the 190s has come from Jay County's No. 2 through 5 golfers,. They have shot much more consistently in the low 50s this year after averaging in the high 50s or 60s last season.

Ashley Bunch and Brittany Lewis shot matching 51s against Winchester, while Miranda Denney posted a 53.

Bunch highlighted her round on the 15th hole, where she scored her first birdie of the season. She added a par on the 268-yard, par-4 17th.

Lewis had an even-keel nine holes for her 51, posting four bogeys. Denney put up three bogeys to go along with a par on the 289-yard, par-4 10th hole.

The Patriots (2-3) had an especially good day on the 101-yard, par-3 13th, which they played 3-over as a team. Champ and Brittany Schlater (62) each posted pars, and Denney, Bunch and Lewis each had bogeys. They also played the par-3 15th at 3-over, thanks to the birdie from Bunch and the par from Champ.

Ferguson said he's been happy with his team's progress, and thinks seniors Denney and Bunch could be in the 40s on a regular basis.

"They're both capable of that," he said. "They just still have to avoid the one bad hole.

"I feel like our team is getting deeper. We've got six or seven girls to pick from at the varsity level instead of four or five. I like the competition between teammates."

Shantel Short shot the No. 2 score for Winchester (5-4) with a 46. She was followed by Ashley Miller with a 51, and Grace Wallace and Alyssa Toney at 58.

Junior varsity

Jay County cruised behind sophomores Ivy Simons and Jennifer Hunt to defeat the Golden Falcons 239-272.

Simons opened her round with a bogey on the 10th hole, and added a birdie on No. 15 for a team-best 53. Hunt closed her round of 58 with a par on the 120-yard, par-3 18th.

Rachael Osterholt shot a 62, Cindy Muhlenkamp finished at 66 and Holly Rittenhouse carded a 70.[[In-content Ad]]