JCHS defeats Tigers

The battle for medalist honors came down to the final hole. And Adam Gray was ready.

The Jay County High School senior picked up his lone birdie of the day to close out his round at Portland Golf Club, leading the Patriot boys golf team to a 172-193 victory Thursday over the Bluffton Tigers.

Gray and Tyler Mohler of Bluffton each needed 35 strokes for the first eight holes, leaving the 178-yard, par-3 18th to decide the match. Gray dropped his tee shot on the green and sank his birdie putt to post a 2-over-par 35 while Mohler settled for a bogey to finish two strokes back.

To start the round, Gray hit his second shot to the right of the green on No. 10 leaving a difficult up-and-down. But he hit uphill chip to within a couple feet of the hole and tapped in for par.

He added two more pars on 11 and 12, and also parred the 16th and 17th holes before finishing his round with a birdie.

Adam Horn played a consistent round to finish second for the Patriots (2-0) with a 44. He had back-to-back pars on the 520-yard, par 5 14th hole and the 168-yard, par-3 15th.

Sophomore Drew Houck was the only player other than Gray to record a birdie. After a difficult start he played 1-under on the 498-yard, par-55 12th hole, and then added a second birdie on No. 15 as he shot 45.

Chase Wellman had one par in his round of 46. Brad Horn shot 51, also finishing with one par.[[In-content Ad]]