Paige Scott is looking better and better on the golf course.

Even in defeat.

Scott competed in the Butler Eagle County Amateur golf tournament last Sunday at Lake Arthur Golf Club. She carded a 2-over-par 74 during the morning session.

Only three golfers in that morning field — Rob Voltz, Nathan Hoshak and Bob Shakely — fared better. They all shot 73.

Scott’s bid to join Jane Wymer as the only three-time winner of the Eagle County Amateur’s Women’s Division fell short when Mars resident Casey Morrow shot a 1-under-par 71 in the afternoon session to repeat as women’s champion.

Morrow is entering her senior year at Bucknell University and plays on the women’s golf team there. The Patriot League has already shut down its fall season.

Scott is entering her junior year at Butler and remains hopeful that the girls golf season will go off this fall as scheduled.

Finishing three strokes behind Morrow in any tournament is no disgrace.

Morrow averaged a program-record 75.6 per 18 holes for Bucknell last fall. She shot in the 70s in all eight rounds she played.

She shot a 72 to win the Women’s Division of the Eagle County Amateur last year. No other female came closer than seven strokes.

This year, Scott gave her a run for her money. And that’s significant.

Casey Morrow is one of the top women golfers in the Patriot League.

Paige Scott has two years of high school golf remaining.

While Morrow was consistent on the college links last fall, Scott was likewise in high school. She failed to shoot in the 30s for nine holes only twice all season. Her goal for this year is to never experience a nine-hole round of 40 or more.

She’s been working on her game every day. She has gotten physically stronger and is driving the ball farther.

Marissa DeCola owns the Butler girls golf record of 31 for nine holes. Scott is chasing that mark. She shot as low as 33 last season.

Scott’s competitive juices are as strong as ever. She returned to the Lake Arthur course early Sunday evening in the event of a possible playoff for the women’s title. She continually practiced on the putting green until it became clear Morrow was locking up first place.

There is little doubt Paige Scott will win another Butler Eagle County Amateur in the near future.

And rest assured, that will not be the crowning achievement of her golf career.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle