Cloverdale defeats Cougars, Eels

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The Cloverdale and North Putnam boys' golf teams battled, along with Eminence, Monday at Clover Meadows. The host Clovers won with a score of 179, followed by North Putnam's 213, while the Eels fielded an incomplete team.

Chris Arnold led Cloverdale with his low round of 39, with teammate Keith Hathorn scoring a 44 to follow. Sam Jordan carded a 47, with Ryan Book scoring a 49 and Mike Wellington and Gary Williams adding a pair of 52s.

"We got off to a bad start and really, with the exception of Chris, did not recover," Clover head coach Doug Wokoun said. "It would be nice to blame the conditions, but it was more a matter of our play rather than wind. We need to start putting together rounds, instead of just occasional good shots or good holes.

Wokoun noted that the main culprit with the team's inconstancy is inexperience. He also acknowledged that they don't have the luxury of waiting for it to come to them.

"We need to start stringing together good holes after good holes, good shots after good shots. I think some of the issue is confidence and concentration, which we just have to overcome," he added.

The Cougars were led by Brandon Volland with a 47 and Quade Snyder with a 53. Mitch Marlow shot a 56, Wes Detienne a 57 and Colton Smith a 58. Jeremy Ban rounded out the North Putnam squad with a 61.

The Eels fielded one golfer, Ryan Wallace, who shot a 54.

The Clovers also won the junior varsity match by a score of 214-243.

Cloverdale's Zach Hall scored a 54, followed by Colte Tomlinson with a 56. Mike Matthews shot a 67 and Coty Atwood ended his day with a 76.

Cameron Howe and Allan Duncan were the Cougars' low scorers with a pair of 62s, followed by Jacob Lucas with a 64 and Nick Stanley with an 82.

North Putnam's young team entered Monday's contest without experience on the Clovers' home course, but Wokoun believes they will improve. He pointed out that both his team, as well as North Putnam's, are in similar situations.

"Coach Martindale has a very young squad and they are also learning," Wokoun said. "It is the first time in my memory that North Putnam had no golfers familiar with our course. They will gain experience and become a more solid unit, but they are in much the same situation. Learning on the fly is a tough way to go."

The Clovers will host Plainfield and Greencastle Thursday at 5 p.m., while North Putnam will host Cascade and Owen Valley today at 5 p.m. at Twin Bridges in Danville.