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SYRACUSE - If Wawasee's varsity boys golf team was to beat Manchester Thursday at South Shore Golf Course, it would not only have to fight off the Squires but a wet, muddy course with the wind blowing as well.
Before the 4:30 p.m. match got underway, Wawasee co-coach Steve Dodds instructed both teams of the muddy and wet conditions and instructed the players of the lift, clean and place method they would use if balls got stuck in the mud.
"There's no roll when you play lift, clean and place but you should've had the perfect lie," said Dodds. "It shouldn't affect the scores, but usually lift, clean and place scores are better."
In the end it was Wawasee's scores that were better as the now 5-0 Warriors defeated the Squires 160-179. Manchester fell to 1-6 on the season with the loss.
Wawasee's Ryan Skaggs and Chad Wortinger led the way with a pair of 39-stroke performances on the back nine. Manchester was led by Derek Miller and Evan Schenkel, who shot nine-over par 44s. Manchester's top player, Ryan Burton, who brought a nine hole average of 39 into last night's meet, shot a 45.
After the first four holes, Wawasee's Luke White was one under par after he shot par on holes 10, 11 and 14. The hole White birdied, 13, a par four 382-yard straight shot, gave Skaggs the most trouble. On Skaggs' third shot, he had to use the lift, clean and place method and shot onto the green after he moved the ball to a dry spot from a mud laden area.
"We knew it would at least be windy," said Skaggs. "It played a pretty big part, it was moving the ball. It's been wet but not that wet. Every time you hit it there's no roll. They've been playing it wet but not that wet."
According to Dodds, the nine holes that were used in yesterday's match hadn't been played on in 11 days, not even by club members.
Hole 18 proved to be the toughest for Burton as he chipped from the sandtrap but overchipped and sent it over the green. Afterward Burton offered little comment other than saying "My swing was messed up today."
"It's not as good as we would've liked to shoot," said Dodds. "We had a slow start. The first two weeks of the season we had to practice inside with plastic balls. It's hard to tell what the kids will do until they get outside."
Wawasee will host a 21-team invitational at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Wawasee's junior varsity team topped the Squires 179-205. Andrew Spurling and Bobby Likens led the Warriors with 44-stroke efforts Adam Metzger and Jeremy Johnson led the Manchester JV team with 49s.
WAWASEE 160, MANCHESTER 179
Wawasee varsity scores - Ryan Skaggs 39, Luke White 41, Scott White 41, Chad Wortinger 39, Eric Andrews 44.
Manchester varsity scores - Ryan Burton 45, Michael Good 46, Derek Miller 44, Tony Ritenour 50, Evan Schenkel 44.
JV - WAWASEE 179, MANCHESTER 205
Wawasee JV scores - Bobby Likens 44, Carter Ploszek 48, Andrew Spurling 44, Justin VanLue 50, Steven Hanford 43.
Manchester JV scores - Mitch Purdy 55, Jeremy Swanson 49, Kyle Williams 56, Chris Lochner 52, Adam Metzger 49.
