OAKLAND MILLS - East Juniata maintained its perfect early season record, staying under two Tri-Valley League opponents and visitor Mount Union in a non-league golf match Tuesday, the home debut for the Tigers and the opener for the Trojans.
East Juniata's 341 was the best team score by 15 strokes, although the host club couldn't claim the medalist of the day - that was Newport's Jeremiah Heath, whose 78 helped his team to a second-place finish at 356. Mount Union was third, 10 strokes off the Buffaloes, and Millersburg fourth.
East Juniata's win was keyed by a pair of 82s shot by Colton Fogelman and Dillon Leonard. All four of the Tigers stayed under 90 on the course, which East Juniata coach Mike Zendt said was sluggish from rain the previous night, even more so on the back nine where aerification had just been completed. The course was soft, he said, and some of the balls were not rolling as expected on the fairways.
Article Photos
Sentinel photo by BUFFIE BOYER
East Juniata’s Colton Fogleman hits the ball with Mount Union’s Alex Ashman looking on Tuesday at Lost Creek Golf Course. See more photos online at cu.lewistownsentinel.com.
"There were some guys who said they were three-putting more than they normally would," Zendt said. "Some people struggled with the greens, some did not."
Mount Union was led by Alex Ashman's 86. Coach Matt Fiscus said he was especially impressed with the 88 Ryan Varner brought in; he is a second-year player. But Cole Boozel, in his first outing after an injury last year, was unable to break 90, and the team was without Brady Goodling, who is expected to be a top golfer in ICC play.
"Goodling being out hurt us. Cole didn't have a great day. Then we have a lot of new guys playing their first match ever," he said - the team's opener against Huntingdon was postponed, making the Trojans the last golf team to start the year.
Fact Box
IF YOU GO
* Mount Union hosts Everett and Northern Bedford Thursday.
* East Juniata travels to Millersburg Sept. 5
And, Fiscus said, "East Juniata played some good golf."
"I was pleased with Colton and Dillon at 82," Zendt said. "Those are solid scores at Lost Creek. It seems like we've got solid competition for that third and fourth score.
"Anytime I get four scores in the 80s it seems like I'm gonna win a bunch of matches."
Fiscus said his team is not used to the narrow fairways of the Juniata County course, but he sees success with just a few strokes coming off. And, he said, his team was just one, unlike some of the others at the match.
"A lot of times you've got to remember that a lot of these schools we play are two schools in one," he said. "We're definitely holding our own. Hopefully we can bounce back and play some good golf at home."
Zend said he's just counting on his experienced squad, avoiding a collapse over one bad hole, and taking advantage of runner-up Newport's difficulty getting a solid third and fourth score.
"That opens up the door for us," Zendt said.
Mount Union (1-2) opens its home and league schedule Thursday against Everett and Northern Bedford. East Juniata (6-0) heads to Lykens Valley a week from today as Millersburg hosts the Tri-Valley League.
Golf
HAC-1 at Midd-West
MIDDLEBURG - Midd-West's "home field advantage" kept the Mustangs two strokes ahead of Shikellamy Tuesday, as the host school carded the low round in a Heartland Conference match at Shade Mountain.
Adam Winey's 76 on the Par 72 course was better than respectable, but still shy of division leader C.J. Tyler, who turned in the low round at 73 to lead Shikellamy. But in the team race, Midd-West nipped the Sunbury school by two strokes. Williamsport was a stroke behind for third.
The Mustangs' other three scorers stayed under 90, which proved to be the difference. Midd-West (12.5-2.5) is still a game and a half behind the Braves. The schools play next at Montoursville Sept. 10 after the longest layoff of the season.
