MARION —The Galion girls golf team notched another win on Thursday afternoon, defeating Elgin by 6 strokes in a non-conference matchup.
The Galion quartet of Julia Conner, Ellexia Ratcliff, Izzie Willacker, and Missi Vonhoupe helped propel the Lady Tigers to a 213-219 victory at Green Acres Golf Course in Marion.
Conner, a junior, was match medalist, shooting a season-best round of 44 on the back nine at Green Acres, a par-34 course. It was her third straight medalist honor for Galion. Fellow juniors Ratcliff and Willacker shot 53 and 56, respectively. Vonhoupe, Galion’s lone senior, rounded out the team scoring with a 58.
Playing varsity for the first time this season were a pair of sophomores, Zoe Frary and Destany Palasia, who each carded a round of 63. Those scores were 15 strokes better than their season average. Other scores from the match were Taylor Kieffer with a 57, Addison Reed shot a 58, and Makenzie Lehman tallied 61 for the Lady Tigers.
“I was excited to get Zoe and Destany in the varsity lineup today,” Coach Alan Conner said. “They’ve worked hard at practice and are improving. I wanted to give them an opportunity to play with some pressure and pace and contribute to the overall team. The progress they are making is nice to see. Also very proud how my upperclassmen stepped up and did what they needed to do to get a victory today.”
The win improved the Lady Tigers record to 5-7 on the season. Galion is off until Wednesday, Sept. 8 when they travel to Oak Tree Golf Course for a Mid Ohio Athletic Conference battle with Ontario. Tee time is 3 p.m.
Match split
UNDATED — The Galion girls golf team split a pair of matches with Clear Fork and Wynford earlier in the week.
Galion earned a Mid Ohio Athletic Conference win over Clear Fork on Monday, but dropped a non-conference match against Wynford on Tuesday.
The Lady Tigers (4-7, 2-4 MOAC), on the road at Little Apple Golf Course in Belleville, out-shot the Lady Colts 202-209 to pick up their second league win of the season. Junior Julia Conner led all scores with a 45 on the back nine, a course with plenty of water hazards and challenging holes. It was Conner’s best score of the year. She was followed by fellow classmate Ellexia Ratcliff, who carded a season best 50.
Other scores for the Galion squad included senior Missi Vonhoupe with a 55. Taylor Kieffer shot 52. Addison Reed shot 59. Destany Palasia shot 60. Makenzie Lehman shot 64. Zoe Frary shot 67. Coach Alan Conner said they each played outstanding while all shooting career-best scores.
Galion again took to the road on Tuesday facing Wynford at the Golf Club of Bucyrus in a battle of county rivals. The Royals bested the Lady Tigers, 190-214.
Conner once again led Galion, earning team medalist honors with her 47 on the front nine.
“The temperature was a pleasant 76 degrees, quite the change from the past two weeks, and with that lower temp, the ladies lowered their scores,” Coach Alan Conner said.
Ratcliff fired a 57, Vonhoupe a 58, and Kieffer a 62. Drop scores for the Lady Tigers were Reed and Izzie Willacker, both carding a 69.
