LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County golf team opened up the 2018 season in the most undesirable of conditions with sweltering humidity and greens that played slower than molasses due to the wet ground.

Add to the mix a young Husky team with only two seniors on the squad and it’s easy to see why Mifflin County went 0-5 against the Mid-Penn Commonwealth at the Lewistown Country Club on Monday afternoon.

Cumberland Valley won the event with a score of 329. Red Land was next with 339, followed by Carlisle (359), Mechanicsburg (394), Cedar Cliff (419) and the Huskies (444).

With the weather conditions being what they were and walking 18 holes for the first time it was no surprise that 21 of the 39 golfers participating shot over 100.

“It was a tough day. The heat and humidity really did a number on the kids,” Mifflin County coach Aaron Bubb said. “A lot of kids don’t have their conditioning up yet for the first match of the season. Add the heat on a pretty rough course and it was a recipe for a very tough day.”

Bubb saw some bright spots from his youngsters, despite the high team score.

“I saw a lot of positives from our young guys. Their attitudes were really good. They battled even though it was a tough day and they weren’t playing their best. The kept their heads in it and kept going,” Bubb said. “Some of the older kids once they got down they stayed down and we need to change those attitudes a little bit. They need to put a bad hole behind them, move on, and correct the things they need to correct.”

Husky number one Kolbi Knode shot a 93 — her personal best in high school competition. Other scores for Mifflin County were Bryan Chilson (108), Cole Chilson (118), George Jordan (120), Adam Sheetz (123), Tanner Ferguson (124) and Alex Wert (151)

“Kolbi got off to a rough start but finished strong. She shot a 93 on a day like today and in terms of the match, was her best round ever in high school competition,” Bubb said.

The rain last week made the greens wet and slow. The ball had no bounce. As soon as one hit the green it stopped on a dime. According to Bubb, the strategy to overcome wet greens is simple, but not always easy to execute.

‘We talked with our team early last week when the course was really wet about your ball striking. When the ground is wet you have to make sure you hit the ball first, ground second,” Bubb said. “If you’re hitting the ground first the ball doesn’t travel as far and then when the greens are wet it doesn’t release like it normally would. They have to take an extra club with them and move up one club size.”

John Peters of Carlisle was the individual winner with a score of 72, the only golfer with a score in the 70s. Ean Morrison of Cumberland Valley was next with an 80. All five Eagle official scorers made it into the 80s.

Mifflin County travels to the Valley Green Golf Course in Red Land for a Mid-Penn Commonwealth matchup on Thursday. The forecast – hot and humid.

“I think they’ll be better prepared for this on Thursday. I think this caught not just us, but all the team’s off guard,” Bubb said. “We haven’t had a day like this in our season so far, not even in practice. Now that they’ve been through it, they’ll be better for it. I think the kids will bounce back. They know what to expect now.”

Cumberland Valley 329, Red Land 339, Carlisle 359, Mechanicsburg 394, Cedar Cliff 419, Mifflin County 444

Mifflin County

Kolbi Knode, 93

Bryan Chilson, 108

George Jordan, 120

Adam Sheetz, 123