Benicia High’s girls golf team suffered its first loss of the season after the visiting Vanden Lady Vikings escaped Mare Island with a 265-269 victory on Tuesday.

Benicia’s Sofia Young shared medalist honors with Vanden’s Crystal Yi, each golfer shooting a 42. Benicia’s Angel Antonio had the third best score of the day with a 44 and birded the par-5 ninth hole, but the Lady Vikings (3-2 Solano County Athletic Conference) came in with the next three best scores to beat Benicia (4-1 SCAC) for the first time this season.

“It seemed like we weren’t playing as well as we usually do,” said Benicia head coach Allan Frederick. “We definitely left some strokes on the green.”

Jordan Whiting-Morales shot a 57 for the Lady Panthers, who still maintain a one-game lead over American Canyon and Vanden for first place. Naomi Kenney added a 59 and Megan Saari rounded out Benicia’s scorecard with a 67.

Vanden’s Gaby Stuch shot a 53, followed by teammates Elizabeth Munger (55), Aja Owens (57) and Jennea Bajala (58).

It was Benicia’s first SCAC loss since the end of the 2015 regular season against American Canyon. The Lady Panthers hosted American Canyon on Wednesday at Mare Island hoping to maintain sole possession of first place.

“We just need to pay more attention to our putting,” Frederick said. “We can’t rush our putts. We should mark our short putts and take some time to think about it.”

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