An important facet to golfing success is adjusting to the course’s elements on the day of the match.

Unfortunately for the Trinity Lutheran boys golf team, a damp, breezy Shadowood Golf Course would get the best of them as they fell to Henryville 181-184 on Monday.

“The course played very tough today; it was very windy and wet,” Cougars coach Greg Personett said. “Our kids were striking the ball really well, but our short game isn’t where we need to be yet. The wind affects all of your short game, as it does your long game.”

Trinity Lutheran senior Parker Criswell led his team by shooting a 7-over 43, while sophomore Chad Stuckwisch finished just one stroke behind at 44.

“Parker had a tough round; he had a couple tough breaks, but he had a pretty good score other than that,” Personett said. “Chad’s 44 was a little bit better, but he struggled on some of his putting today, too.”

Sophomore Skyler Stahl came in next for the Cougars by totaling 48 strokes, and senior Clayton Pottschmidt shot a 49.

Sophomore Jonathan Keith scored 50, and freshman Noah Criswell rounded out the team’s scoring at 51.

Personett said that while he isn’t disappointed in his team’s performance, he thinks that the short game needs improvement.

“Our short game is what’s holding us back right now, but when it comes in we will see all kinds of improvement,” Personett said. “Downhill and uphill speed significantly changes when’s it’s wet. Plus with the wind like it was, with so much debris on the green, it makes it hard. You’re going to get some bad breaks from that.”

Before a match, the Cougars prepare for the elements by chipping multiple times and putting on the greens before team scoring commences.

“We had a lot of guys working on their putts today,” Personett said. “We had some two- and three-putting. Henryville has a good team, they’re well coached, and we just weren’t prepared. We go back to the drawing board tomorrow and get it squared away.”

With the loss, Trinity Lutheran stands at 1-1 in dual meets this season.