LITTLE FLOCK -- Siloam Springs didn't get its best performance from its top golfers Wednesday in a dual match against Rogers at Lost Springs Golf and Athletic Club.
But the back end of the Panthers' playing rotation came through in a big way as the Panthers defeated the Mounties 168-173 in a nine-hole match.
Seniors Brandon Coale and Cody Casebeer each shot 41s, while sophomores Cody Beyer and Noah Karp each shot 43 for Siloam Springs in the play five, count four format.
It was the Panthers' third match of the season and coach Michael Robertson has been pleased with the Panthers' progress.
"What was interesting today was our guys at the top didn't play as well, but we had a couple of guys step up," Robertson said. "We are trying to get more balance and not be so top heavy."
The Panthers were playing without two of their top golfers -- junior Aaron Jones and senior Brendan Lee, who are nursing back injuries.
Robertson said he hopes to get Jones and Lee back for the Panthers' next match, which will be Aug. 26 against Fayetteville at Paradise Valley.
Rogers' Chase Rogers was the medalist with a two-over 38, while Drake Henry and Christian Schommer had 44s for the Mounties and Spencer Eiserman shot a 47.
In the girls match, Rogers' Brooke Matthews shot a two-under 34 and the Lady Mounties defeated the Lady Panthers 137-189.
After walking off the green at the No. 8 hole, two Siloam Springs boys golfers stopped to watch Matthews tee off on the hole.
The pin on the par 3 was tucked way in the back and anything short of the hole would probably roll forward off the green. Matthews stuck her tee shot from 132 yards two feet behind the hole.
"Did you see that?" said one of the Siloam Springs golfers. "That's crazy."
Matthews wound up making her birdie putt to cap her nine-hole round.
"I had the pleasure of watching Brooke improve last year and over the summer," Lady Mounties coach Brenda Alexander said. "She is going to continue to get better and better. It is fun to watch."
Matthews finished her round with four birdies and a double bogey for her 2-under in the nine-hole match. She finished third at the Class 7A State Tournament last fall as a freshman.
Matthews started at No. 9 and she was 2-under after a birdie on the par 5 No. 3 hole. She missed an eagle putt on No. 3 after her approach from 190 yards landed six feet from the pin.
Matthews then went back to even par after a double-bogey at No. 4 but she closed out her round with back-to-back birdies at No. 7 and No. 8. Her approach at No. 7 from 60 yards out stopped a foot from the pin.
"She's the best player in Arkansas," Robertson said of Matthews. "Only a sophomore -- dang good."
Amanda Glass led the Lady Panthers with a 58. Freshman Brinkley Beever carded a 61, while sophomore Halle Heavener shot a 70 for Siloam Springs in the play four, count three match.
Sabra Ivey carded a 51 for Rogers while Payton Smith added a 52 as the Lady Mounties took the top three spots.
-- NWA Media sports writer Paul Nielsen contributed to this report.
Sports on 08/17/2014