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By Don Eskins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Springfield Catholic Fightin Irish fired a team low 343 to grab this year’s Class 1 Section 2 title at Fremont Hills Golf Course on Monday afternoon.
The win at sectionals was another big one for the Catholic linksters who have captured six tournament victories in 2018 and turned in a few Missouri prep record setting scorecards along the way.
The victory will now move the Irish on to next week’s state tournament set to take place at the Mozingo Golf Course in Maryville.
Also moving on to compete in the state tournament will be the Logan-Rogersville Lady Wildcats who finished second with a 398 and the 12 top individual golfers not going to the ‘Big Dance’ as a member of the Fightin Irish or Wildcats.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE TOURNAMENT
Irish coach Frank Gallant was happy to see his charges put the sectional title safely behind them on Monday so they can now concentrate on the upcoming state tournament.
But according to the Irish coach Monday’s victory at Fremont Hills was a bit more challenging for his charges than they have been used to in 2018.
“We hit some bumps today and I’m really proud of the way our kids kept themselves together during a pretty difficult day of golf. We had some pretty windy conditions and the course played pretty tough but they handled it well,” said Gallant. “But maybe today’s challenges came at a good time for us. We’ll have lots of things to think about and work on at practice this week in preparation for the state tournament.”
Freshman Regan Zibilski agreed.
“The conditions on the course today weren’t the best. It was really windy and the course was tough to play. But even so we wanted to go and play some solid golf,” said Zibilski. “And although we didn’t put up the kind of score we would have liked to I believe we did okay. I think we’ve gotten our shaky round behind us so now we can start looking forward to competing at state.”
Zibilski led the way for Catholic at Fremont Hills carding a 73. She was followed by sisters Kayla and Kylie Pfitzner who both recorded 80’s, Ellen Moore with a 110 and Brooke Newhouse who scored a 117. Only a team’s top four scores are counted for tournament play.
For Logan-Rogersville Brooke Wagner posted the top score for the Wildcats with an 86. She was joined by teammates Annie Strong- 95. Janna Mantala- 101, Emilie Strong- 116 and Alyssa Junger- 122.
Sectional Individual Qualifiers
Kassidy Hull – 79 – Eldon
Ashtynn Russell – 87 – Bolivar
Nina Zrubakove – 92 – Butler
Shelby Haskins – 93 – Purdy
Logan Belt – 96 – Eugene
Hayley Frank – 99 – Strafford
Kelsey Hudson – 100 – Sacred Heart
Elizabeth Coulter – 101 – Greenwood
Sydney Riley – 103 – Osage
Caten Lucchesi – 104 – Sacred Heart
Tarin Schrock – 104 – Butler
Morgan Peters – 105 – Clever
