ORWIGSBURG - The third time was more than the charm for the Lehighton golf team.

The Indians lost to Blue Mountain twice during the regular season, but when it counted most - Monday afternoon at the league championships at the Schuylkill Country Club - the team came through in a big way.

Lehighton defeated the Eagles, the league’s defending champs, to earn the right to hoist the trophy.

A year ago, Lehighton was fourth in the team scoring with a 424. The Indians shaved 83 strokes off that score to finish with a 341.

The biggest jolt came from junior Aaron Miller, who shot a six-over-par 78 on the challenging course.

“I really felt good on the front nine,” Miller said. “Overall, I felt really good. My chipping was good, and that put me in a good position.”

After shooting an even-par 36 on the front nine, Miller admitted the chance to win the individual crown started to weigh on his psyche.

“I struggled on the back nine, just the pressure knowing that I could win,” said Miller, who posted a 42 the rest of the way.

For the past three seasons, Schuylkill Haven’s Albie Evans was the big dog in this event with three straight individual titles, but he is now at Fordham University. That put the individual title up for grabs among this season’s top shooters.

This time around, Blue Mountain’s Derrick Yuengling, a seasoned veteran, was the odds-on-favorite to capture the title in his senior season. And Yuengling did indeed live up to the top billing, shooting one stroke better than Miller, finishing with a round of 77.

“He’s very tough,” Miller said of Yuengling.

But make no mistake about it, the Lehighton junior golfer has made great strides all season, according to his coach.

“(Aaron) has been shooting consistently in the 70s the second half of the season,” coach Mark Maholick said. “Just to show you how much he’s improved, the last time we played Blue Mountain here he shot an 87.”

Miller’s teammate, Trey Spring, also came up with a solid number. Spring carded an 85, allowing him to finish in the top five. He, too, had big improvements over the season much like Miller.

Tyler Barton of Schuylkill Haven posted a 79, while North Schuylkill’s Jeffrey Markosky was in the thick of the battle, too, with his round of 84.

“The key is keeping the ball in the fairways, and when you hit the green you have to stay under the hole,” Maholick said. “We caught a break with the Sunday rain softening up the greens, and they weren’t as fast as they usually are.”

In the girls competition, defending titleholder Victoria Fuss of Pottsville was successful in winning her second straight individual championship. Fuss shot a 95 to finish one stroke better than Lourdes’ Alessandra Albert. North Schuylkill’s Brooke Powis carded a 108 to finish third. Leyna Warner of Nativity finished with a 109 to place fourth, while Weatherly’s Maddie Von Frisch carded a 115 to place fifth.

DISTRICT QUALIFIERS … The win by Lehighton sends all of its golfers to the District 11 Class 3A team championships next Wednesday at Steel Valley Golf Course in the Lehigh Valley. Miller also received an automatic berth into the individual portion of the event with his second-place finish.

DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONS … Mahanoy Area, which won the Division 2 regular season title, finished third in Monday’s team tournament with a score of 399. Weatherly, the Division 2 runner-up, finished fourth with a 411. The Wreckers, who have had success over the past several seasons, are coached by Brian Kaminski. Mahanoy Area coach Joe Orsulak is a Marian grad. The Golden Bears are led by junior Luke Matta, who finished with an overall score Monday of 95. Four of Orsulak’s golfers are from Shenandoah Valley in a co-op agreement.

OTHER NUMBERS … Jack Lorenz, Lehighton’s top golfer throughout the regular season, carded an 86 and said he struggled with the greens. Lorenz carded an 83 a year ago. The Indians’ Kyle Nahf was a huge contributor to the championship effort with his 92, nine strokes lower than his norm. Weatherly was led by Jake Solonoski, who carded a 102. Marian was led by Carl Moyer’s 99.

STILL ALIVE … A number of local golfers can still qualify for the individual District 11 tournament, but will need to shoot low numbers next Monday at Old Homestead in the District 11 qualifying tournament.

CELEBRATING A CENTURY ... The course, designed by the famed Donald Ross, will be celebrating a century of playing the game next spring.