Two happy teams

The Indians and Patriots had two very different days.

But both teams left the links happy.

The Fort Recovery High School girls golf team shot a season best 185 at Portland Golf Club on Tuesday, while the Jay County Patriots totaled 220 to pick up their second win of the season over the Winchester Community Golden Falcons, which shot a 332.

“We shot our season low and broke 190,” said FRHS coach Jeff Vaughn. “Mallory (Evers) had a heck of a round today and had two birdies and scored 43 for her own PR.

“This is when we want to start playing that well. I told them we need this the next couple Thursdays at (Midwest Athletic Conference) because right now we’re tied for second and we’ve got St. Henry, who’s undefeated coming up. So overall, I’m happy with how the girls responded today.”

While the Tribe (7-1) shot its season low, which also happened to be the team’s best score from the 2024 campaign, Jay County’s 220 was the third-best mark of the season and earned the Patriots (2-7) their second win, matching their total from a season ago.

“If we tied our (wins) from the whole season last year, I’m excited,” said JCHS coach Carrissa Allred. “I know the girls are excited. I hope we can get one more, but in the end, we’re just a young program so even seeing the scores decrease every match  is a huge win for me.”

Mallory Evers led all golfers as she shot a career-best 43 strokes to earn match medalist honors.

The FRHS senior parred the first hole before trading bogeys and double-bogeys over the next four.

She found her stride after that as a pair of one-putts earned her two birdies.

The first came on the 401-yard, par-5 sixth hole. Evers started with a strong drive that allowed her to make the green in regulation. Sinking her first putt on the small green secured her the birdie.

The senior slipped up on the seventh hole, shooting a double-bogey, before getting back on track with hole No. 8, a 119-yard, par-3. She drove the short distance to the green and made her first put to earn her second birdie.

“It’s exciting because I never expected to break that 45,” Evers said, referencing the round she shot at the Union City Classic. “It’s very, very big. This definitely will boost my confidence.”

Alexa Ridenour led Jay County as she tied her career best mark of 51 strokes. She shot four bogeys on the match, including the 290-yard, par-4 fourth hole.

Ridenour played it safe with her tee shot, driving the ball to the bend, leaving 125 yards to the green. Her approach shot flew a bit long into an overgrown bunker. She chipped out within five feet of the hole, but her first putt ran down the slope to stay the same distance away before she put in her second putt for par.

“My shots in the middle of the fairway was doing pretty well today,” Ridenour said. “My chipping still needs a little work. … But I feel pretty good.”

Crystal Swartzentruber, who shot a 59 for the JCHS girls golf team, follows through on an approach shot on the sixth hole at Portland Golf Club Tuesday. (The Commercial Review/Andrew Balko)

 

Kelly Martin and Ava Lanter tied with 53s to lead the way for Winchester.

All three of the Tribe’s other scorers managed to break 50 along with Evers.

Olivia Knapke and Evvie Briner both carded 47s. They combined for three pars and nine bogeys.

“When you have all of your top four girls in the 40s, you usually have some success,” Vaughn said. “Tonight we had that and, knock on wood, the top four have been pretty consistent all year. They’re all seniors and have a lot of experiences so that helps.”

Also competing but not scoring for Fort Recovery were Layla Armstrong, whose 58 would have qualified for both JCHS and the Golden Falcons, and Cora Pearson, who had 60.

Erin Aker provided the second-best score for the Patriots at 53. The junior made pars on the sixth and ninth holes, while putting up a bogey on the second.

Elizabeth Brunswick had a strong finish to her round, shooting back-to-back bogeys on holes No. 8 and 9 en route to a total of 57. Both Taven Bently, who made her varsity debut, and Crystal Swartzentruber finished with 59 strokes to round out the team score.

Reny Lingo’s 64 didn’t affect the final outcome.

Throughout the round, most of the Patriots found success off the tees and with their irons, but found some trouble with their wedges and on the greens.

“Two days a week we focus on what I call ‘stations,’” Allred said. “The last couple of times, I’ve noticed more girls will tell me that they need chipping and putting. I see a lot less on the range, so I kinda knew coming out today that their drives and iron shots were going to be good.”