EDWARDSBURG — The Wolverine Conference South Division golf chase may be a two-horse race.

Dowagiac, which has won the first two division jamborees, and defending champion Sturgis, have separated themselves in the early going.

The Chieftains shot 200 as a team to edge the Trojans by a single stroke Tuesday at Four Lakes Country Club in Edwardsburg.

“We had another good night at Edwardsburg,” said Dowagiac coach Bob Turner. “It was a new course that none of the schools had played before other than Edwardsburg, and with the small, elevated greens, most everyone’s scores were just a little higher. We have some girls that have worked hard over the summer, and because they did, they know how to forget a bad hole and keep grinding it out.”

Sturgis’ Carli Sanford edged Dowagiac’s Rebecca Franklin for medalist honors at Four Lakes. Sanford finished with a 43, while Franklin finished with a 44.

Both the Chieftains and Trojans placed two girls in the top seven, but Dowagiac was also able to land a pair of players in the eighth through 10th spots, which made the difference. Sturgis had just one more player finish in the top 10.

Edwardsburg’s Ashley Low finished in the top 10 for the second straight jamboree. She shot 54 to lead the Eddies.

Dowagiac now has 10 points, while Sturgis is second with eight points. Three Rivers and Vicksburg are tied for third with five points each.

The Trojans will have a chance to make up some ground on Dowagiac at the next league jamboree, which they host on Tuesday.

“Big test next Tuesday,” Turner said. “We go to Sturgis and play at another course that only the home team has played at. We will have to play well to have a chance on Tuesday, but we are looking forward to it.”