O’Fallon places seventh at girls state tournament

The O’Fallon Panthers placed seventh at the Class 2A Girls State Golf Tournament at Hickory Point Golf Course in Decatur.

Senior Alyssa McMinn, who shared the first-round lead with a 72 on Friday, followed with a second-round 74 to place fourth with a 146 total and earn all-state honors. Making their third straight state tournament appearance, the Panthers’ seventh-place finish is their highest ever after placing 12th in the state finals two years ago and 10th in 2016.

Senior Brooke Boatman shot 75 on Saturday to finish with a 158 total, while sophomore Brianna McMinn (163) and senior Natalie Meinkoth (165) rounded out the top four scores for O’Fallon, which finished with a team score of 632. Winnetka New Trier won the championship with a total of 603. The Trevians, a perennial state power, also had the individual champion as junior Penelope Tir finished with a 144.

“It’s been a great three-year run and what this group of seniors has done is set the standard for future O’Fallon golf teams,” coach Chris Eddy said. “I couldn’t be more proud and more pleased for a group of girls.

“Alyssa (McMinn) has a tremendous tournament, and as a team we played better by 12 strokes than what we played on Friday.”

Edwardsville senior Addasyn Zeller shot 75 on Saturday and tied for 14th place.

Class 1A girls

Nashville senior Brooke Bartling shot a 79, and Rachael Kell added an 81 on Saturday as the Hornettes claimed the third-place trophy at the Class 1A girls state tournament at Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur.

Second in the state finals a year ago, the Hornettes also got an 83 from senior Hope Rueter and a 93 from senior Jordan Stiegman to finish with a 336 score on Saturday and a two-round total of 680. Massac County won the title with a 665, and Rockford Lutheran was second at 671.

Kell had the highest finish of any local player, tying for 14th place with a 162.

Class 3A boys

Reigning Belleville News-Democrat Player of the Year Ben Tyrrell, of Edwardsville, fired a 3-over par 75 and tied for third place at the Class 3A boys state tournament at the Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington.

Seventh in the Class 3A state tournament a year ago, Tyrrell, finished with a two-round score of even par 144. The co-first round leader after shooting 69 on Friday, Tyrrell’s score was Lincolnshire Stevenson junior Jackson Bussell who won the state championship with a score of 141.

Edwardsville placed ninth in the team competition. The Tigers’ score of 627 was well behind champion Hinsdale Central, which finished with a 593. Junior Zach Trimpe (155), senior Jon Ratterman (162) and sophomore Trevor Laub (171) rounded out the Tigers’ attack.

Class 2A boys

Althoff senior Dylan Davidson tied for 14th place at the Class 2A boys state tournament Saturday at Weibring Golf Course in Normal.

In contention for a top-five finish after a 71 on Friday, Davidson shot a 77 on Saturday to finish with a score of 148. Marquette’s Kolten Bauer had the top local finish, tying for sixth place with a 146.

Althoff placed last in the 12-team field with a score of 684. Sophomore Jack Bruening was the Crusaders’ second player, finishing with a 36-hole score of 166.

Class 1A boys

Gibault junior Lucas Hermann shot 82 on Saturday and went on to place 47th at the Class 1A boys state tournament Saturday at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington.

Hermann finished with a two-round score of 169. Teanmate Zachary Heet was in a tie for 52nd place with a score of 170.

This story was originally published October 14, 2017 at 10:09 PM with the headline "O’Fallon places seventh at girls state tournament."