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Comets fight off visiting Bears at West Liberty’s home course
by Gregory R. Norfleet · Sports · April 13, 2017
West Liberty succeeded in fending off West Branch at its home course, defeating the visiting Bears 215-224 on April 6.
The girls golf team from West Branch “did fairly well considering the conditions,” Head Coach Jan O’Neil said.
Claire Bridges and Aleah Rocha led the team with 52 each, with Ashley Riley contributing 58 and Amanda Budreau and Sydney Lamont tying with 62. McKenna Walsh, shot a 66.
Gusty wind played a factor, but even more so was the wet conditions left by earlier rains, the coach said. Further, one of the varsity players — Walsh — had never golfed at the West Liberty Country Club before.
“The kids talk the most about the water hole,” O’Neil said.
Both holes No. 1 and No. 3 include a water hazard across the fairway, but the water is closest to the No. 3 tee.
“It always gets in their head when they stand on the tee box and see that big pond in front of them,” the coach said.
Wet conditions cause a drag on a rolling ball and hinder its bounce.
“They also talked about how wet the course was,” she said. “The wind probably wasn’t the most significant factor — I would say the wet conditions were more of an obstacle.”
Hole No. 1 is one of the three longest on the nine-hole course, and the longest with a water hazard. Yet Rocha managed a four on the par-five.
“Aleah was really pumped after her birdie on one,” O’Neil said. “That is a fairly long hole for the girls and got her momentum started.”
The coach said the team works to turn two overs into bogeys, and bogeys into pars, etc., to bring down their scores overall.
Riley and Budreau both shot bogeys on hole No. 2.
“We always aim for pars and bogeys as even bogey golf will put you in the 40’s,” she said. “We are always happy when those happen.”
While West Liberty did not bring a junior varsity squad to compete, West Branch brought several to test their skills on the out-of-town course.
Jessica Myers shot 69, Lauren Nalan shot 73, Abbey Fryauf shot 60, Hannah Westcott shot 75, Annika Olson shot 66, and Drew Perkins shot 63.
Wahkonsa
West Branch traveled to Durant and beat the Wildcats Monday at the Wahkonsa golf course, 220-240.
Aleah Rocha medaled with 51. Claire Bridges finished second for the team with 53.
Sydney Lamont, Abbey Fryauf and Amanda Budreau all shot 58, and Ashley Riley shot 65.
West Branch’s junior varsity put several players on the course Monday: McKenna Walsh 61, Drew Perkins 60, Jessica Myers 62, Lauren Nalan 59, Annika Olson 57, Maggie Wilson 76, Hannah Westcott 77, Maddi Luneckas 60, Mattie Hills 68, Lexi Clemens 68, Skylar Oxley 75, Breanna Braun 77.
Durant did not field a JV team.
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