Golfers positive despite losses

Jay County High School’s girls golf team opens its season Wednesday having lost three of its top five players from last year.
But that isn’t stopping coach Butch Gray from having a positive outlook for the 2015 season.
“I always do,” said Gray, whose team plays in the South Adams Invitational at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Golf Club of the Limberlost in Geneva. “I always am someone who is positive and thinks we should be competitive every match.”
Jay County, which earned a berth in the regional tournament for the first time since 2000 and just the third time in school history, will be without Maddison Baughn, Malarie Houck and Sydney Mathias.
Baughn and Houck averaged 51.1 and 52.6 strokes per nine holes respectively, but they graduated. Mathias, who was third on the team with an average score of 52, moved to Vincennes during the winter.
That leaves seniors Brooke Sanders — the Patriots’ No. 1 golfer last year with an average below 51 — and Rachel Antrim (55.5) as the two players with the most varsity experience.
“The girls have come back with a great attitude,” Gray said. “I’ve had some girls work hard this summer. As I watched them play, they’ve played well.
“You can tell they’re juniors and seniors now.”
In addition to Antrim, senior Abby Saxman returns having played at the varsity level last season. In three rounds she had an average score of 54.
Senior Sydney Robbins and junior Carlie Wickey also have one round of varsity golf under their belt.
Senior Olivia Braun, juniors Cassie Reno, Madison Brown and Kendra Dodd, and freshmen Sierra Caster and Madalyn?Garringer round out the 11-member group.
With the lineup essentially wide open, Gray is eager for the season to begin.
“It is going to be interesting to see who rises to the top and plays well consistently,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to that first match to get a feel for what we can do.”
And with Leo, the 2014 Allen County Athletic Conference champion, leaving the league, the ACAC is now wide open.
“It’s going to be a fun time again,” Gray said. His team is slated to host the 18-hole conference tournament Sept. 5 at Portland Golf Club.
Following the season opener Wednesday, Jay County travels to play in the Muncie Central Invite on Thursday.
Aside from the conference tournament, Jay County will play four matches on its home course, including three straight dual matches beginning Aug. 13 against Muncie Central. The Patriots then host Anderson and Union (Modoc) on Aug. 17 and 18 respectively.
Jay County hits the road Aug. 24 for three matches in four days before returning home Sept. 1 for a three-team meet against Winchester and Fort Recovery.
After the conference tournament, the Patriots close their season with four consecutive road matches leading up to the sectional Sept. 19 at Crestview Golf Club in Muncie.