Playing on its home course at Franklin County Country Club, the Borgia Knights qualified for state as a team with a second-place finish last Friday at the Class 3 Sectional 1 Tournament.
The top two teams and the top 12 individuals and ties from non-qualifying teams advanced to the Class 3 state tournament May 14-15 at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield.
Cape Notre Dame won the sectional team title with a team score of 300, just three strokes ahead of Borgia’s score of 303.
“Cape Notre Dame had an outstanding performance,” Borgia Coach Dave Neier said. “Their third and fourth golfers both shot 73s. They got great rounds out of their players. I was really pleased with our performance. Hopefully we can go to state and continue to improve.”
Sullivan finished third with 327 and Sikeston was fourth with 328.
With four golfers, Pacific also qualified to have a team score, placing fifth with 369.
Cape Notre Dame and Borgia qualified as teams for the state tournament.
Although Sullivan did not place in the top two, the Eagles still had all five of their players finish in the top 12, meaning their entire lineup will compete at the state tournament.
“It was nice to see all the hard work these kids have put in practicing pay off,” said Sullivan Coach Dino McKinney. “These kids not only practice during the season, but put a lot of work in during the summer.”
Leading the way for Borgia was Alex Buschman, who finished in a three-way tie for first place with an 18-hole round of two-over-par 73.
“Alex really had a good round,” Neier said. “He came up with good shots when he needed them. If he was off the green, he would get a really good chip. If he was away from the hole, he got a good putt.”
Cape Notre Dame’s Cody Cox and Christopher Dixon also carded rounds of 73.
Borgia’s Bryce Dolan and Clayton Voss tied for sixth place with rounds of five-over-par 76.
“Bryce and Clayton really had solid rounds,” Neier said.
Also for the Knights, Cameron Stahlman finished in ninth place with a seven-over-par 78 and Alex Rennick tied for 19th place with a round of 86.
“Cameron finished with a 78 even though he had one really rough hole,” Neier said.
It took a score of 87 or better for players not from Cape Notre Dame or Borgia to qualify for state.
Sullivan was led by Drew Armstrong, who fired a six-over-par round of 77 for an eighth-place finish.
Tylor Carrico placed 14th overall with a round of 82.
Justin Biermann and Colton Philpot tied for 15th place with scores of 84.
Ryan Juergens tied for 21st with 87.
“We are young with four sophomores and a junior,” McKinney said. “It was nice to see them handle the pressure of playing for a trip to state.”
Two of Pacific’s four sectional golfers, Cullen VanLeer and Brendan Jett-Kell, qualified for the state tournament.
VanLeer tied for 15th place with a round of 84.
Jett-Kell finished 18th with a score of 85.
“Cullen and Brendan both had solid scores. There were a couple of holes that they could have played better, but they both did a great job and I’m very proud of them,” said Pacific Coach John VanLeer. “Playing at state will be a great experience for them and hopefully make them stronger golfers.”
Also playing for the Indians were Charlie Brinker (37th with 98) and Austin Forister (tied for 41st with 102).
“All four of our sectional qualifiers should be proud of what they accomplished,” VanLeer said. “We have no seniors on our team, so this experience should make us a better team next year.”
St. Clair’s lone sectional golfer was Matt Gordon, who saw his season end by finishing tied for 28th with a score of 92.
Owensville’s three sectional golfers who ended their seasons were Luke Moritz (tied for 25th with 89), Doug Hudnall (34th with 96) and Dustin Nicks (tied for 46th with 104).
Other golfers from the sectional meet qualifying for state were Sikeston’s Evan Deere (74), Notre Dame’s Jacob Seabaugh (75), Notre Dame’s Tyler Arpin (79), Dexter’s Cody Stevens (79), Notre Dame’s Gunnar Knudtson (81), Sikeston’s Gabe Wheeler (81), Sikeston’s Benjamin Kirk Hoggatt (86) and Sikeston’s Benjamin Murray (87).
The meet had a storm delay of an hour and 10 minutes near the start.
“Thank you to Steve Sebastian and his crew at Franklin County Country Club for getting the course ready,” Neier said. “Thanks to our athletic director, Kurt Russell, and special thanks to Coach Chip Thompson, who did a lot of the leg work to make this tournament be as good as it was. He did some tremendous work.”
