A short-handed Siloam Springs boys golf team dropped its first home match of the season Wednesday.
The Panthers shot a team score of 169, which was 10 strokes more than visiting Springdale Har-Ber, who won the nine-hole golf match at Siloam Springs Country Club with a four-man total of 159.
"We have a couple guys battling sickness right now and need to get well," said Siloam Springs golf coach Michael Robertson. "We had some young guys get an opportunity today. I thought we had some nerves early but bounced back and finished stronger."
Senior Cody Beyer, one of several fighting illness, led the Panthers with a score of 40.
Sophomore Karson Clement shot a 41, while freshman Luke Baker and sophomore Josh Johnson each carded a 44. Senior Will Gambill shot a 48 to round out Siloam Springs' scoring.
Har-Ber's Kade Keith shot the low round of the day with a 35, while Logan Bradley carded a 36 and Isaac Hannon a 42.
Hunter McNeal and Landon Teters shot 46 and 47, respectively to round out Har-Ber's scoring.
The Panthers saw Har-Ber earlier this season at the Chambers Bank Red'Dog Invitational at Springdale Country Club on Aug. 3. Siloam Springs shot a 325 that day finishing one stroke behind Har-Ber's 324. Keith won a playoff hole to take medalist honors with a 70 in that match to lead Har-Ber.
Robertson said the Panthers were disappointed to drop a home match against the Wildcats on Wednesday.
"We've been really tough at our course over the last few years," he said, "but it was nice to get some younger guys some experience in pressure situations and I think it will only help in the future. We need to get well and get ready for the stretch run coming up."
The Panthers return to action at 3 p.m. on Tuesday against Fayetteville at Paradise Valley Golf and Atheltic Club.
They'll play at Greenwood on Thursday.
Siloam Springs had six boys compete in junior varsity action on Wednesday.
Junior Sam Everett shot a 50, while senior Solo Jackson shot 51. Sophomore Trey Jackson and freshman Shadd Holmes each shot 52, while freshman Evan Sauer shot 54 and senior Kip Dooley 56.
For Har-Ber's JV, Matt Burgin shot a 41, followed by Kolby Arnold 44, Peyton Locke 46 and Peyton Harrell 49.
Sports on 08/21/2016