Mikes defeat Pioneers to even Section 8 record
WAYNESBURG – Carmichaels golf coach Tom McCombs was pleased with his team’s high end scores, but expected better lower scores Tuesday as the Mikes evened their Division II, Section 8 record at 1-1 with a 201-211 victory over West Greene at Rohanna’s Golf Course. “With three guys at 6-over-par as your best score, that’s not our best round,” McCombs said of his 2-1 squad. “When bogey golf is the highest round, that’s not bad.”
One player per Carmichaels’ twosome shot a 39 with Jamie Kowalczyk (No. 2), Sean McCombs (No. 4) and Jeremy McIntire (No. 6) carding the 6-over scores.
As the first foursome finished, the Pioneers (0-1, 1-2) were in the hunt for their first section win. Ryan Koffler shot a 38 for medallist honors and Jon Szarell carded a 45 to keep West Greene three strokes behind. Jamie Bandish had a 41 for the Mikes.
The two teams matched strokes in the No. 3-4 foursome with the combined scores totaling 82. Joey Menhart added a 43 to McCombs’ score Carmichaels while Justin Allen had a 40 and Gerry Karg carded a 42.
The match came down to the final foursome and the No. 6 golfers after the scores of both No. 5 golfers were thrown out. Ken Tennent’s 44 wasn’t used for Carmichaels while Jason Antill’s 60 was discarded. McIntire bested R.J. Martin’s 46 to clinch the win for Carmichaels.
McCombs was pleased with the win, but realized the Mikes will have to improve to make a run at the team playoffs.
“We have to keep going (forward). We’re trying to get the second spot (in the section),” McCombs said. “It’s early, but the next time we play here we have to shoot at least 10 strokes better. The lower end has to come down.”
West Greene travels to Carmichaels Thursday to play California while Carmichaels goes on the road to Greene County Country Club to play host Jefferson-Morgan.