DARKE COUNTY – Now that it’s September, some high school athletes are starting to hit their strides.

The season is still young for many sports while for golf it’s rapidly approaching the end of the year. This week’s Daily Advocate athletes of the week include a golfer who’s coming on strong toward the final weeks of the season and a soccer player who has made the most of her first few games.

This week’s Daily Advocate athletes of the week are Franklin Monroe boys golfer Henry Bourne and Franklin Monroe girls soccer player Allyson Manning.

Bourne, who leads all Darke County golfers with a 38.6 nine-hole average so far this season, set a school record in Franklin Monroe’s match against Tri-County North Wednesday at Penn Terra Golf Course. Bourne shot a two-under par 32 to tie the school record for best round.

“It was pretty impressive, especially with the weather conditions and the rain that came through,” Franklin Monroe boys golf coach Brian Happy said. “He kept his head on his shoulders and just played his game, didn’t let the weather affect him.”

That day Bourne was nine shots better than any other golfer from Franklin Monroe or Tri-County North. He also was the medalist with a 39 at Stillwater Ridge Golf Course as Franklin Monroe beat Newton Tuesday.

“I’m happy to see all the low scores from him because I know what he means for the team,” Happy said.

Bourne has been solid with his putting this season, Happy said. And whenever he does run into a rough patch, it only motivates him more.

“When it comes time for the league matches, he gets focused and doesn’t let one or two bad shots get him rattled,” Happy said. “Hopefully he keeps building on this.”

Manning has come out extremely strong this season, scoring eight goals in her first three games of the year. She had two against Newton, three against Botkins and three against Greenville in a 4-0 win Tuesday night.

“She’s playing really well right now,” Franklin Monroe girls soccer coach Scott Howell said. “She’s got a fantastic team behind her. I have to give everybody credit, but she’s finishing really well right now.”

Manning’s eight goals puts her seventh among all Division III girls soccer players in the state in scoring, although all six girls ahead of her have played more games.

“Allyson is just one of those kids that physically she’s really strong and mentally she’s growing every day,” Howell said. “She’s one of those kids that everything she does she does well.”

Having led Franklin Monroe with 15 goals last season, all of the Lady Jets’ opponents know Manning is who they have to stop, Howell said, which makes her strong start to the season even more impressive.

“They’re all over her all the time,” he said. “She’s got a lot of heart. She finishes in tough situations. That alone is saying a whole lot about her.”