ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Hub varsity golf team fielded eight players during its Interstate 8 Conference finale against the Ottawa Pirates at Fairways Golf Course on Tuesday evening.

Junior Ian Metzger fired an even-par 36 to lead the Hubs, who saw their conference win streak snapped in a 146-165 loss to the Pirates. Sophomore Alex Dyer added 41 for the Hubs (9-3, 4-1 Interstate 8), who will host a nonconference match against Genoa-Kingston on Thursday evening. Rochelle’s final dual match of the season will be played at Fairways Golf Course on Tuesday, Sept. 24, when the Hubs will hold their Senior Night match against the DeKalb Barbs.

“Ottawa has qualified for state over the last couple of years and they’ll probably qualify for state again this year,” head coach Glen Mehrings said. “It’s good to measure ourselves against the best because it’s no fun beating up on the little guys and thinking we’re the best kids on the block… We knew we had to play our best golf, but they putted the ball better than us and their short game was tighter. Their misses were closer and their speed on the greens was solid.”

Tuesday marked the first time this season that Rochelle started eight players at the varsity level. The Hubs received a boost from sophomore newcomer Trenton Cunningham, who was the third-lowest scorer on the Rochelle side with a 43. Sophomores Johnny Chadwick and Connor Lewis each carded 45 for the Hubs, who will travel for the Interstate 8 Conference tournament at Kishwaukee Country Club on Monday, Sept. 23. The conference meet will begin at 8:30 a.m.

“Trenton’s improved a lot and he’s really eager to learn,” Mehrings said. “He’s a natural athlete who’s played other sports and he’s getting his misses under control. He’s learning how to manage his game as opposed to his first few practices, where he was just hitting the ball and finding the ball. He’s learning how to carve out scores… Trenton’s a really competitive player and he wants to do that. He doesn’t give up on himself and he wants to get better.”