Seven local golfers reach state tourney
STE. GENEVIEVE – One player each from four MAAA conference teams emerged from a loaded sectional field Monday afternoon to qualify for the Class 3 state golf tournament.
Central sophomore Trevor Bradley placed third among individuals with a 3-over par 75 at Ste. Genevieve Golf Club to easily clinch his second consecutive state berth.
Farmington’s Frankie Eaton, North County’s Wil Claywell and Potosi’s Dalton Singer survived the cut as postseason fate for many remained in doubt until the final hole.
North County’s Wil Claywell watches his made par putt on the 8th hole at Ste. Genevieve Golf Club during Class 3 sectional tournament action on Monday.
Lutheran South (310) and John Burroughs (314) advanced to state competition as teams. North County (345) and Farmington (346) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, behind Notre Dame (341).
Zach Shirley starred for Lutheran South as tournament medalist, using six birdies to record an impressive round of 69 and a four-shot victory. He was the lone competitor to finish below par.
Only Shirley and Robert Baldwin (+1) of Burroughs performed better overall than Bradley, who recorded two birdies within his first six holes while starting on the back nine.
Central sophomore Trevor Bradley chips toward the flag on No. 8 at Ste. Genevieve Golf Club during Class 3 sectional tournament action on Monday.
Bradley immediately atoned for a double bogey on the turn by carding the only eagle of the day. A chip on the par-five 2nd hole found the mark after his approach settled just off the edge of the green.
Singer will also make a second state appearance as the lone Potosi representative after birdies at 9 and 13 enriched his 12th-place round of 82.
Potosi’s Dalton Singer drives from the sixth tee at Ste. Genevieve Golf Club during Class 3 sectional tournament action on Monday.
Claywell, Eaton and three others achieved the qualifying cut of 84. Four players – including Lucas Spray and Braden Swift of North County – narrowly missed out with 85.
Claywell sank a downhill 12-foot par putt on No. 8 that proved especially crucial after his round ended with a bogey. His solid start was marked by birdies at 11 and 16.
Spray and Swift suffered crushing bogeys after heading to No. 9 narrowly on the right side of the cut. Noah Umfleet shot 91 to complete the Raiders’ composite total.
Eaton earned his state inclusion by landing clutch birdies on 15 and 18 as all five Farmington members opened on the front nine.
Frankie Eaton of Farmington unleashes his tee shot on No. 11 at Ste. Genevieve Golf Club during the Class 3 sectional tournament on Monday.
Jonah Burgess and Dylan Wiles produced scores of 87, and Alden Klug tallied 88 for the Knights.
The two-day Class 3 state tourney commences next week at Old Kinderhook in Camdenton, Mo.
Class 2, District 1
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The West County golf team was eliminated from state contention on the heels of its first-ever district title, but senior Reid Pratt managed to extend his season on Monday.
Pratt registered a round of 91 at Cape Girardeau Country Club, which was good enough to finish sixth among individuals in the Class 2 sectional tournament.
Arcadia Valley benefited from a seven-way tie along the cut line, as Austin Emert and Austin Wren used scores of 98 to sneak through.
Willow Springs dominated the team results with a collective 361, and St. Pius totaled 393 to edge West County at 398 for the second qualifying bid.
Carson Clabaugh shot 101 while teammates Noah Vinson, Bryce Pruett and Matthew Clifton each had 103 for the Bulldogs.
Nick Sippel of St. Pius was sectional medalist by a five-stroke margin with a 9-over par 80.
Pratt, Emert and Wren will begin Class 2 state competition next Monday at Meadow Lake Acres in New Bloomfield, Mo.
Matt King is the sports editor for the Daily Journal. Contact him at mking@dailyjournalonine.com
