Andrews claimed the conference crown in 2017, the spring he graduated from Crystal City. Hammond was a three-time league champion (2015, 2016, 2018) for Hillsboro and shot 156 over two days to tie for 18th at the Class 3 state meet at Old Kinderhook Golf Course in Camdenton before he graduated last year.
The Hawks won the conference team title in 2017, then yielded to Festus by four strokes last season at the Ste. Genevieve Golf Club.
The two teams, along with Herculaneum, played in a tri-meet on March 19. The Tigers won handily, shooting 186.
After qualifying for sectionals last season, senior Frank Tello has emerged as Hillsboro’s No. 1 golfer and Hammond’s heir apparent. Tello shot 88 and finished sixth in the conference last spring.
“We’re looking for him to take a huge step forward in his game,” said Brian Sucharski, who’s been with the Hawks for 12 years, the last four as the head coach. “Frank has the length to compete at a high level in high school. We will work on strengthening other aspects of his game, including his short game and working on course management.”
Sophomores Jack Politte and Eli Tucker head up a young group primarily of other sophomores and freshmen.
“We have a lot of newcomers in the program and they have all shown a willingness to learn how to play the games,” Sucharski said. “So far, I have been very pleased with the excitement level and the camaraderie they’ve displayed during practice.
“This year is a little different than in the past because we are low on experience, but I’m very excited about the newcomers who are learning how to play golf every day,” Sucharski said. “We have set some realistic short-term goals that are focusing on how to play the game the correct way.”
Hillsboro hosts De Soto at Raintree Country Club on Friday.
De Soto, Festus, Hillsboro and Windsor are all in District 2, which will play at Quail Creek Golf Course in St. Louis this season.
Tigers very young this year
Owen Horsley, Kyle LaRose, Logan Uding and Michael Smith were a solid foursome who led Festus to last season’s conference title – its first since 2014 – after they all shot 91 or better.
But they’ve all graduated, leaving veteran head coach Chris Koch (16 years) to sort out a new crop. Sophomores Nathan Bohn and Grant Flotron both played for the varsity last season. Bohn was 44th at districts. Freshmen Isaac Stucke, Collin Weinhaus, Cole Rickermann and Ben Oppelz represent the new wave.
“We are young, and our goal is to continue to improve and build a solid base for the next few years,” Koch said. “Advancing our golfers to postseason play would be an added bonus.”
Koch said so far this season the No. 1 golfer role has been rotating, with any of his players being able to shoot a top score on any given day, but Stucke and Weinhaus are emerging as the most consistent players.
“All of the players are capable of being the best or worst,” Koch said.
The Tigers’ home course is Joachim Golf Club in Herculaneum. Festus plays Crystal City today (April 4).
Frosh No. 1 for Dragons
De Soto will be led on the links this season by freshman Ethan McClinton.
“He’s a pretty consistent golfer who can keep his head if he makes a bad shot,” said head coach Zeb Hammond, in his eighth year.
The Dragons had one golfer (Anthony Smith) reach the Class 3 sectional round last year, but he has graduated. Freshman Tate Steinmann, sophomore Jacob Pruneau and junior Dylan Isaac are De Soto’s only other varsity golfers.
“Our numbers are surprisingly low this year,” Hammond said, also noting that there are only two JV players.
New coach has high hopes
Jacob Massa became Crystal City’s new golf coach in March, just before the season began.
Massa replaced Sean Breeze and is an assistant coach on the school’s football team. Through teaching and coaching, Massa knew seniors Griffin Morris, Connor Lowe and Dylan Beekman, all of whom have been on the team since they were freshmen.
“I know the guys on a personal level and knew enough about the program to know I was inheriting a good group of guys,” Massa said.
Lowe shot a 2-over-par 41 to win a tri-meet against Hillsboro and Windsor on March 26. Morris, Lowe and Beekman are all capable of being the Hornets’ No. 1 this season. Morris advanced to the Class 1 state meet at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield last May and shot a two-day score of 204, with a 95 on the second day.
“Those three are all good golfers and any given day they can be No. 1,” Massa said. “Griffin went to state last year and he’s probably the most consistent. It’s a nice setup we have.”
Morris doesn’t use his driver too often. He’ll use a 5-iron in the tee box.
“He knows he’s good with his irons. He puts it out there on the fairway and it works for him,” Massa said.
Beekman can put a charge into a drive.
“Beekman is a big strong boy. I never would have guessed he’s that good on the golf course,” Massa said. “He doesn’t have a lot of weak spots in his game. He even putts well. He really knows his mechanics.”
Lowe needed to improve on his consistency and recover from “blow up holes.”
“He didn’t have those in the first match,” Massa said.
Freshmen Ethan Boyer and Rilee Blackwell and sophomore Chase Dement will be turning in cards for the varsity this year. Massa said Boyer was a wild card coming into the season and he has experience playing golf outside of high school.
“He shows a lot of potential. He does really well, he’ll par a hole, and then he’ll have some blow-up holes,” Massa said.
After the way Dement started playing after the first couple of weeks, Massa thought he had played before.
“He has improved tremendously from the first week,” Massa said.
This is Blackwell’s first experience with golf, and he hasn’t competed in a match yet. Blackwell is the Hornets’ lone JV player.
“He’s not real comfortable yet. We kind of coaxed him into playing. He’s listening and he’s coachable,” Massa said.
With all of the shakeup on the league’s upper echelon, Massa said his team could be a factor in this year’s conference tournament.
“When I took over and had our first meeting, the first thing I said was I was excited because I am inheriting a good program,” Massa said. “It’s easier when the players set high expectations. They want to win conference and district. When your players are motivated, I think they will have more success.”
St. Pius close to sectional cut
Led by Nicholas Sippel’s co-title round of 88 at the Class 2 District 1 tournament last spring, St. Pius X came in third place, one spot away from a team trophy.
John Herrell, Colten Richey and Andrew Rocca also medaled at the district meet, and the foursome was fearsome at sectionals, finishing second and qualifying for state as a team. Sippel led the way in sectionals with a tournament-best round of 80. Sippel shot a two-day score of 166 to finish 18th in Class 2 at the Meadow Lake Acres Country Club in New Bloomfield.
Sippel graduated in 2018, leaving the No. 1 spot up in the air early on this season. Herrell, Richey and sophomore Jayda Eggemeyer all could end up there.
“They’ll be fighting for that spot all year,” said head coach Austin Willis, who enters his fourth season. “They are all fairly good at keeping the ball in play and are dedicated to working on improving throughout the season.”
Neither Herrell, Richey or Rocca cracked 100 at the conference meet, and all three were 80th or lower at state.
“We’re an inexperienced team this year, so my goal is just to finish above .500,” Willis said. “We’ve had at least one player qualify for state every year since I’ve been here.”
Joachim is the Lancers’ home course, and they host league rival Windsor today (April 4). St. Pius is in Class 2 District 1 in Kennett this spring.
Owls suffer mass turnover
Connor Portlock led the way for Windsor last season, but he graduated and is at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. None of the other five golfers who played in the league meet for the Owls last spring returned this season, either.
But that doesn’t mean Windsor is devoid of upperclassmen. Seniors Isaac Carter, Zach Gerleman, Aaron Harrison, Josh Krupp and Audrey Hammerstone are joined by juniors Zach Krupp and Ian Phares on the varsity this year.
Wayne Montgomery enters his 10th season as head coach. He said Gerleman or Phares should compete for No. 1.
“Gerleman hits his irons really well and Phares is probably a little more consistent with all of his clubs,” Montgomery said.
Senior Drew Wallace has shown the most improvement since last year, Montgomery said. Harrison is a multi-sport athlete giving golf a try. Josh Krupp is a solid putter and Hammerstone is long off the tee.
“She will outdrive the boys the majority of the time,” Montgomery said.
The Owls’ home course is the Oak Valley Golf Course in Pevely. Windsor is at Joachim to play St. Pius X today (April 4) and then hosts St. Vincent on Friday.
“I think our goal is always to play the game with honesty and integrity,” Montgomery said.
Herky steps out of Shadowens
For four years, Claire Shadowens was the top golfer at Herculaneum. Shadowens made the Class 2 state cut last year, although she missed it by three strokes in 2017.
Even with Shadowens, a medalist at the league tournament last year, the Blackcats didn’t register a team score at the conference meet.
Senior Dylan Beranek assumes Shadowens’ role as the team’s No. 1 golfer. Beranek, a four-year member of the varsity, qualified for sectionals last season and finished 33rd with a round of 106.
“I know he has his sights set on going one step farther this year,” said head coach Chris Schell, who has been on the job for 17 years.
Sophomore Kory Mueller will push Beranek for the top spot, Schell said.
“The competition between the two will only make them better,” Schell said.
Senior Ryan Kattengel (second year), junior Justin Placher (third year) and sophomore Elijah Garrett (first) round out the varsity.
Herculaneum plays in the West County Invitational at the Terre du Lac Country Club on Monday.
“We lack varsity experience as a whole, but like many other teams, the short game needs to be a strength so our scoring can be competitive,” Schell said.