By Susan Jenior
Record-Courier correspondent
MOGADORE - In high school golf, the score of the match can change as each player finishes the ninth hole.
Players run the gamut from elation to defeat and back to joy within a matter of minutes as the lead changes hands.
It was never more true than during the battle of two top teams in the PTC County Division on Monday, as undefeated Mogadore planned a not-so-warm welcome for the Waterloo Vikings and the Streetsboro Rockets.
In the end, the Wildcats continued with an unblemished record in the league, while Waterloo dropped to 5-2 and Streetsboro finished the evening with a 4-6 record.
The match between Waterloo and Mogadore came down to one stroke.
As the medalist golfers finished the ninth hole at West's Mogadore Country Club, the Wildcats were ahead by three strokes thanks to Nathan Tarter's 1-over 35.
The consistent golfer had taken the lead over the Vikings' No. 1, Klinton McBroom, who had carded a 38 despite several nice shots including a long putt from the fringe on hole seven.
Will Lansinger (Mogadore) and Alex Doan (Waterloo) were the No. 2 guys for their team with Doan following the lead of McBroom, firing a 38 to Lansinger's 40.
The lead shrunk to one.
Nick Massoli finished with a 43, while the Vikings' Justin Fano continued the string of 38s for the Vikings.
Now the Vikings were ahead by four strokes.
It was up to the final three golfers for each team.
"Ryan Tarter won this match for us today," said Chris Mossa, Mogadore's varsity coach.
In only his eighth match as a varsity player, the sophomore and younger brother of Nathan Tarter, fired a 39.
Waterloo's Kevin Kovacich shot a 48 and started a series of 40s for the Vikings' golfers that included two 44s.
In the end, Mogadore earned the victory by the slimmest of margins " that one stroke.
The victory was up in the air until the sixth player finished, when one less stroke could have sent the match into a tie.
Meanwhile, Dan Kopcak of Streetsboro was making his own valiant effort to keep his Rockets in the match.
Holing out with a 39 he was joined by Anthony Edwards' 42 before the next four golfers from Streetsboro finished in the upper 40s and 50s.
It is hard for players when a match is this close " one putt could have dropped instead of lipped the cup, one chip shot could have landed closer to the hole or an approach shot could have stuck on the green.
"We tell our kids that every shot is important," said Mossa.
The Mogadore coach offered that Nathan Tarter had another great round "but this was a total team effort today,"
Mogadore can't let down their guard.
In today's match at West's Mogadore Country Club, the Wildcats take on the Rootstown Rovers, defending PTC champs with only one loss thus far for the season.
It could be another nail-biter.