By RYAN WALKER
The Bluffton boys’ golf team opened up its season with a win over conference foe Adams Central Monday on a beautiful, yet unusual, early April afternoon at Timber Ridge Golf Course.
“I honestly can’t remember a better first match weather-wise,” head coach Steve Abbett said after the match, now entering his 18th season with the Tigers. “Normally, the entire month of April is hit or miss. I hope the temperatures can stay somewhat close to what we’re seeing this week.”
The Tigers shot a 167 on opening day, while the Jets shot a 178.
Abbett was happy with what he saw from his team after some pregame jitters went away.
“I felt like the guys settled in after the nerves went away, and they got through the first few holes,” he said. “I was pleased as a whole for our first match.”
This could be just the start of a highly anticipated season. Last year, the team qualified for the regional after a third-place finish in the sectional. Of the returning golfers in the main lineup, Bluffton returns everyone except graduate Alec Reiff. Two all-conference members, Ephraim Frauhiger and Keegan Schwartz, are expected to lead the squad again this year, and the first scoresheet proved that.
Schwartz was the medalist of the match, shooting a 38 in the nine-hole outing. Frauhiger shot a second-best 40. Conner Klopfenstein and Kade Abbett shot a 45.
Keaton Bush and Jayden Sharpe were the top for Adams Central with scores of 44.
Though it did not count for the team score. Anthony Hartman shot a 44, and Declan Grieser shot a 48 were fifth and sixth on the team. The two have been making some noise in practice, and it has been noticed by Abbett.
“After the returning four from last year, we’ve got freshman Declan Grieser and sophomore Anthony Hartman, who have been stepping it up in practice and tonight’s match,” Abbett said.
The two junior varsity teams teed off, with the Tigers falling 219-233 to the Jets.
Kyler Potter and Ethan Hunt led the way with scores of 56, followed by Hudson Werich (60), Logan Reifsteck (61), Isaac Wheeler (65), and Braden Lemler (69).
Bluffton will host Blackford and Marion at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at Timber Ridge.
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