Ripon may have missed out on its only chance at beating the top team in the Trans-Valley League on Wednesday.

Escalon’s Lane Cadell was low medalist with a 1-under 34 at Spring Creek Country Club, but the rest of the Cougars left the door open in a 223-237 victory. Ripon shot a 222 on the same course in its league opener just the day before.

“We should have beaten them today,” Ripon coach Chris Musseman said, “but the good news is that we should be able to be competitive at the end of the season, which at the beginning of the season wasn’t even on the radar.”

It’s somewhat of a rebuilding year for the two-time defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division V champion Indians, but they do return one of the area’s top golfers in Nick Sharp. His 39 led the way Wednesday. Trent Hawes and Ryan Wilson each carded a 46, Cole Gonzales contributed a 50 and Justin Brito turned in a 56.