Sep 8, 2010 By Jim Downey 3 min read

Laurel Highlands golf coach Mike Smith knew if his Mustangs defeated Albert Gallatin Tuesday afternoon at Duck Hollow Golf Club they would hold at least a one-match lead because Uniontown and Belle Vernon were also playing at Duck Hollow. The Mustangs put together a solid team round, defeating the Colonials, 205-241, in Division I, Section 2 action. Laurel Highlands improves to 5-0 in the section and 6-0 overall, one match shy – against Uniontown – of finishing the first half of the schedule. Albert Gallatin slips to 0-6 in the section and 1-6.

The Mustangs still have that one-match lead with the result of the Uniontown-Belle Vernon match pending a ruling from the WPIAL golf steering committee. Mount Pleasant has two losses.

Cross country coaches always talk about “good grouping,” and they would’ve been pleased with the way the Mustangs finished. Richard David and Derek Plaski shared medalist honors with a 3-over 40. Alex Ashton and Ben Cole both shot 41, and Jeremy Guzy closed the scoring with a 43. John Gabriel’s 44 was thrown out.

“I’ll take everyone of them,” Smith said of the victory. “As tough as the conditions (on the course) were, they stepped up today.”

Smith threw his squad a curve before the match when he told them to take the drivers out of their bags.

“With the conditions, they didn’t need their drivers. I wanted to show them they can play just as good (without the driver),” explained Smith.

The Mustangs’ situation heading into the second half is different than that of last year because early losses had them looking up in the standings.

“We’ll leave the first half no worse than tied for first. We control our own destiny,” said Smith. “This is the first team in the five years I’ve been coach that I can sense they’ve come together as a team. They grasp the team concept of golf.”

The Colonials are going the other direction, leaving coach Bernie Wydo trying to figure out what needs to be done to right the ship. Pat McDonough was the low man with a 44. Brandon Sutton shot a 46 and Nik Myers finished with 49. Brandon Kenney (50) and Jacob Provance (52) closed the scoring.

“We have no confidence, no competitiveness,” said Wydo. “All we’re doing is learning how to lose.

“I have to figure out a way to change that.”

The Colonials travel to Greene County Country Club this afternoon to play Jefferson-Morgan in a non-section match. The Mustangs are off until next Tuesday when the start the second half of the schedule at Ringgold before closing the first half Wednesday against the Red Raiders.