By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School boys golf team split a home Northwest Conference triangular match at the Bluffton Golf Club course on Thursday, August 6.

Visiting Columbus Grove (2-0, 2-0 NWC) won the event decisively with 156 strokes. Bluffton beat Crestview (0-2, 0-2 NWC) 176-206 in the other league opener.

The Pirate linksters, under head coach Richard Streicher, improved to 2-1 overall in dual matches and 1-1 in NWC action with the results.

Clark Keehn of Grove won match medalist honors by firing a 36, one stroke ahead of teammate Gage Sautter. CG took the top three individual spots in the match to pave the way to victory.

Ethan Fifer led the Pirates with a round of 42. He finished fourth overall in the field of 18 golfers.

Bluffton’s Gibson Meyer carded a 43 to come in fifth, while Owen Braeun tallied a round of 45 to end up seventh. Pirate Caleb Fifer was the fourth Pirate scorer by posting a 46.

Landon Byers registered a round of 49, while Coby Dailey shot a 50.

The Pirates are scheduled to play in the Liberty-Benton Invitational on Friday, August 7, at Sycamore Springs Golf Course in Findlay at 9 a.m.