PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsutawney boys golf program welcomed a pair of teams to Punxsutawney Country Club on Monday for an afternoon tri-meet — one a familiar foe already for the young season and the other an out-of-league unfamiliar squad.
Against Ridgway, which the Punxsy boys saw just four days prior in their opening match at St. Marys, the Chucks came out on top for the second time in as many tries, 171-196, but a deep and talented Indiana squad managed to edge the host by bringing in a four-score best total of 167.
Three different players — Punxsy’s Aiden Ishman and the Indiana duo of Ryan Bell and Rudy Lipniskis — split medalist honors with all three firing a round of 40 for the best nine-hole score of the day.
Ishman, playing out of the fifth spot for Punxsy, was able to secure that low score with Punxsy’s No. 1 golfer for the match, Evan Presloid, just one shot behind him with a 41.
The Chucks’ four-best scorers were rounded out by a pair of golfers with rounds of 45 in Nolan Stahlman (No. 3) and Garrett Jacobson (No. 4).
Also participating for Punxsy in the varsity match but not weighing into the team scoring were Rooney Kunselman (47) and Mason Noerr (50).
The Elkers’ first four golfers were also their lowest scorers, with No. 2 Bryce Porter firing a round of 46 — just one shot better than No. 1 Max Schreiber’s 47.
No. 4 Carlin Porter was next in the progression with his score of 51, followed closely by Aidan Bender (No. 3) with his round of 52.
Eli Myers, Ridgway’s No. 5 golfer for the match, also finished with a 52 to tie for his team’s fourth-best score, and Jack Gardner rounded out the scoresheet with a round of 57.
Indiana showcased its depth in the final standings, with Bell, who was a part of the first group with Presloid and Schreiber, being joined by Lipniskis, who golfed with fellow medalist Ishman in the fifth group, as the team’s lowest scorers.
Rounding out the scorers for the winning squad were Chace Force (No. 2) with a round of 42 and Will Steve (No. 4) with a 45. Beau Raykes (48) and Logan OKopal (49) were also on the varsity card.
Punxsy is scheduled to return to action on Thursday with a league-based tri-meet against Brockway and Elk County Catholic — which will be the host for the day — while Ridgway will join DuBois Central Catholic at Kane for a tri-meet of their own.