McDERMOTT, Ohio — The Gallia Academy golf program suffered its first Southeastern Ohio Athletic League loss since 2010 Thursday afternoon during the opening league match of the 2012 season at Elks Country Club in Scioto County.

The Blue Devils finished second overall with a team score of 164, finishing eight shots off the pace of eventual winner Warren and its tally of 156. GAHS and host Portsmouth both ended the day with matching team marks of 164, but the Blue Devils won the tiebreaker — which is based on the lower fifth-score from each team.

Rob Canady led Gallia Academy with 2-over par round of 38, followed by Dares Hamid with 40 and Sean Saltzgaber with 42. Brady Curry rounded out the team score with a 44, while Bruce Moreaux successfully broke the tie with a 46.

Zach McKenna paced Warren with an overall runner-up effort of 36, followed by Michael Sams with 39 and Adam Lang with 40. Steve Farley ended the winning team score with a 41, while Reece Patton added a 44.

Third-place Portsmouth was led by medalist Brandon Jones with a 1-under par round of 35. Drew Miller (40), Levi Porter (44) and Trent Rodbell (45) rounded out the team score, and Joe Amburgey shot a 47 as the five-scorer — allowing GAHS to claim a one stroke win in the tiebreaker.

Logan was fourth overall with a team score of 167, while Jackson (179) and Chillicothe (190) rounded out the team standings.

On Friday, Portsmouth struck a little revenge during a dual at Cliffside Golf Course in Gallia County. Both teams posted four-man team scores of 173, but the Trojans came up one shot better on the fifth-score — allowing PHS to claim the overall match.

Canady led the Blue Devils and all golfers with a 1-over par round of 37 for medalist honors. Hamid and Moreaux were next with matching 43s, while Curry rounded out the regular team score with a 50.

Marcus Moore recorded the fifth score with a 51, while Saltzgaber (57) and Logan Rosier (63) also competed in the event.

Miller paced PHS with a 38, followed by Jones with a 41. Rodbell and Porter both fired efforts of 47 to round out the scoring, and Tanner Poage shot a 50 to break the tie and capture the win. Amburgey also shot 52 on the day.