The Cougar golf season is off and running after two matches during the first week of school.

The Cougar men won their first match Tuesday afternoon at Pine Valley, in Elizabethtown, against Central Hardin, then split a three-way match Thursday at The Lafayette, beating Caverna, but losing to Greenwood.

The girls won their Tuesday match by forfeit, but did not play on Thursday as no girls teams were on hand.

On Tuesday, senior Joseph Alexander returned to competition after a three-year absence and came up big for the Cougars. Playing in the last foursome of the day, Alexander came to the final hole with his team trailing by a stroke. After he putted out and turned in his card, which showed a 38, the low round of the day, the Cougars claimed a 5-stroke victory, 164 to 169.

Seniors Aaron Wilson and Trenton Fleener were close behind Alexander, shooting 39 and 41 respectively. Junior Travis Lampton and senior Bradley Kessinger both carded 46. Though Nolan Taylor had a rough day, going around in 61, he finished his round with a tee shot to within about three feet on the par-3 ninth hole, which he knocked in for a birdie two.

Corey Stith had the low round for the Bruins, shooting a 39. Brett Seymour was one stroke back at 40, and Scott Johnson and Jeremy Bolin both shot 40. Hank Roberts and Thomas Cofer had identical, non-scoring rounds of 47.

On the girls' side, the Lady Bruins, favored to win their region, were without their top golfers, who were playing in a tournament. When one of the Lady Bruins withdrew during her round, it gave the win to the Lady Cougars.

Senior Michelle Critchelow led the way for Grayson County, firing a 48. Sophomore Rain Sumner was next at 55, sophomore Devon Dunn shot a 60, and sophomore Beth Schultz had a 66. Both Dunn and Schultz are first-year Lady Cougar players.

The Cougars will be playing a number of JV matches this season and they played their first on Tuesday at Pine Valley, winning 191-203. Sophomore Kyle Skaggs led the Cougars with a 44, while sophomore Kyle Hughes shot a 46. Freshman Blake Collins shot a 50 and seventh-grader Brad Alexander shot 51.

"This was a good way to start," said Head Coach Barry Alexander. "It shook a little rust off our clubs."

Thursday at The Lafayette, the Cougars shot 171 to Greenwood's 165. Caverna was third at 212.

Greenwood was playing without it's top two golfers and the Cougars were without Fleener, who was in Bardstown playing in the Pepsi Junior Tour Championship.

Wilson led the Cougars with a 40, while Skaggs came through with a fine round of 41. Lampton shot a 44 and Taylor had a much better day in shooting a 46 to complete the Cougar scoring.

Hughes, Collins and Joseph Alexander all shot 47, and Brad Alexander had a 53 in non-scoring rounds.

According to Assistant Coach Mike Meredith, the Cougars were in the hunt to beat Greenwood until their number-eight golfer came in with a 40 to catapult them into the lead.

"In that region, Glasgow and Bowling Green are traditionally strong, but the Greenwood coach told me he thinks his team might take it this year," Meredith said. "We didn't play very well today, but I think we are going to be fine."