Olney Defends Home Course, Beats Bulldogs

OLNEY -- Olney High School defended its home course, handing Effingham St. Anthony's boys golf squad its first loss of the season. Olney tallied 167 to edge the Bulldogs with 169 and Mount Carmel 171.

"We played the back nine tonight and half of our team had never seen that side of the course," said Coach Phil Zaccari. "This is definitely a course you need to play. There is trouble on holes that you cannot see from the tee and shots you think are good can find those places. In that sense, we did not manage the course very well.

"Joe Powell grinded through though, tying for medalist with a 38. He was our biggest bright spot. We putted better as a team, but this night showed we need some work on our course management when we play tight courses."

Powell tied with Mount Carmel's Christian Slaton and Olney's Blake Berry for the top spot. Also scoring for the Bulldogs were Connor Greene 43, Jack Niebrugge 44 and Garrett Hixenbaugh 44.

The Bulldogs are back in action Friday at the Charleston Invitational.

At East Richland Country Club

St. Anthony -- Joe Powell 38, Connor Greene 43, Jack Niebrugge 44, Garrett Hixenbaugh 44, Cole Buehnerkemper 45, Dalton Anderson 50, Jared Hutchison 53, Nate Schmidt 58, Gus Koester 59

Olney -- Blake Berry 38, Josh Haussy 43, Dylan Taylor 43, Colin O'Neal 43, Michael DeVenecia 46, Chloe Buerster 50, Tanner Hart 53, Jordan Seib 53, Jake Kowa 56

Mount Carmel -- Christian Slaton 38, Chase Witsman 43, Beau Johnson 44, Gage Iles 46, Ian Hipsher 46, Daniel Dydo 50