Haines shoots career-low in loss

Kyler Hudson set a new career-best score in the first meet of the season.
Monday, it was Graham Haines’ turn.
Haines, a senior, posted a 38 for a new career-low as the Jay County High School boys golf team lost to the Delta Eagles 154-168 at Portland Golf Club.
“It’s definitely encouraging,” said Haines, who had a frustrating 89 on Saturday in the Monroe Central Invitational. “It feels good to go out and play like I know I’m capable of and only have a few things I wish I would have done differently.”
One of those instances could be the 385-yard, par-4 third hole, on which Haines had a double bogey to be 2-over-par after three holes. But he didn’t let the double affect the rest of his round, as he made par on the fourth, bogeyed the fifth and birdied the 471-yard par-4 sixth to sit at 2-over with three holes to play.
“I just tried to keep the same mindset that I would if I would have birdied the hole,” he said. “I’ve been focusing on that recently, just trying to move on to the next shot whether it’s good or bad.
“It’s worked out pretty well.”
Haines closed out his round with two pars and a bogey. He had a par putt on the 129-yard par-3 eighth hole miss just to the left by 6 inches, and he left a 20-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole 2 feet short.
“I need to get better at reading greens,” Haines said, noting that his putt on the eighth hole had a late break he wasn’t anticipating. “As for No. 9, my approach shot was a little too far to the left. I would like to be able to dial in my iron shots in the future to set myself up for easier birdie putts.”
Kyler Hudson finished with a 40 as the No. 2 score for Jay County (1-1). He rebounded from a double bogey and bogey to open his round to make birdie on the third hole.
His second shot on the third hole came to rest on the left side of the green, and he was faced with about a 12-foot putt with a slight right-to-left break. The junior sank it for the only birdie of his round.
Collin Haines also birdied the third hole, but it didn’t appear as if he’d have a chance after his tee shot went left of the fairway on the other side of a creek. Rather than trying to punch it through the trees and utility poles and on to the fairway, he opted to go over top and his ball landed on the green above the pin.
The sophomore had a straight, 10-foot putt on a downslope fall in the cup for his second birdie. He was 1-under through three holes and 2-over after six. He finished with a 44.
Jay Houck closed out the Patriots’ team score with a 46, a round that started with a two-stroke penalty for hitting a ball that wasn’t his and then three-putting for a 9. He was 6-over par on the other eight holes.
“It’s penalty strokes and concentrating with putting,” said JCHS coach Butch Gray, whose team hosts Bluffton at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. “We all need to develop short term memory. If you mess up, just go on.
“I’m not unhappy with them at all. It is early in the year. They all think they ought to be playing better.”
Also competing at the varsity level were Nick Hayden and Ian James, who shot a 51 and 54 respectively.
The Patriots’ junior varsity team also lost, 232-187.
Spencer Calvert led the Patriots with a 54, and Auston Rittenhouse was one stroke behind. Xavier Ninde carded a 62, and Matthew Franks finished with a 63.