Highland golfers playing well as they head into regional tournaments
The final week of the 2023 golf regular season was a mixed big for the Highland boys golf team.
Last Wednesday, the Bulldogs turned in a strong showing at the Mississippi Valley Conference Tournament at Belk Park Golf Course finishing second overall and then the Bulldogs visited St. Clair Country Club on Monday and struggled with a rough day in the Althoff Crusader Tournament.
“We did well in the conference tournament finishing second out of a six-score playoff and Braden Schropf won individually by four shots, so that was a good note for last week,” Highland coach Brendan Barghetzi said.
Schropf led the Bulldogs with a strong 72 on the course followed Easton Belford, who shot a 76 on the day.
Waterloo claimed the conference tournament by winning the playoff over HHS.
Highland shot 312 as a team finished second place.
After the conference tournament last Wednesday and the best ball Orphan Invitational in Centralia. Last Friday, the Bulldogs finished the regular season with a flat performance on Monday in the Crusader Invite at St. Clair Country Club in Belleville.
Highland shot a disappointing 339 and struggled in all aspects of the game.
“It was honestly our worst score of the year,” Barghetzi said. “To a degree, we just didn’t have it and our putting was off.”
Tyler Koerkenmeier led HHS with and 81 while Schropf shot an 82 followed by Alex Reinarman ( 83),, Tanner Gillam with a 94, and Cale Houchins shooting a 93.
Next up for HHS is the Class 2A Regional at Greenview Country Club in Centralia which began Wednesday and a chance to move on to next Monday’s sectional tournament in Mount Carmel.
“I would like to see us qualify as a team and I think it would like a sub 320 as a team which we’ve done a few times this but we’d have to have two scores in the mid-70’s for sure and have one or two guys step up,” Barghetzi said. “Individually, I think we’ll have two guys to three guys that will qualify and advance to sectionals. The season goes by so fast and it’s exciting t get to the playoffs.”
While the boys stumbled in their final regular season outing, the Highland girls turned in a top-shelf performance on Tuesday at the Mississippi Valley Conference Tournament at Belk Park Golf Course in Wood River.
Highland took second place on the tournament, shooting 345 as a team finishing just behind first place Triad which won it with a 328 team score.
The strong outing in the MVC tournament was a reassuring sight for Highland coach Jordan Keeven, whose club struggled five days earlier at Belk Park in the Gary Bair Tournament.
“I think that comped to our tournament on Thursday at Belk Park, they definitely came out with a little more confidence, a little more focus and a little more energy and they didn’t play the best round they’ve ever played but at the same time they got themselves out of trouble when the needed to, they let bad holes go,” Keeven said. “So I was very proud of their recovery and think it definitely saved them from having worse scores for sure.”
Five players medaled for the Bulldogs to aid their cause. Sidney Coziar shot 83 to lead the way followed by an 85 from Alex Pokojski with an 84, Brooke Hunsche (86), Mia Emig (90), and Kalei Gould fired a 93 giving HHS five medalists in the top 10 of the tournament.
Keeven was pleased with the team’s improved showing.
“They handled themselves and the course better,” Keeven said.
That outing gives Highland a boost heading into the Class 2A O’Fallon Regional on Thursday at Tamarack Golf Course in Shiloh. Highland will have to deal with the likes of Triad, Waterloo, Edwardsville, O’Fallon, and Mascoutah to advance individuals and or the team onto the Class 2A Normal Community West Sectional at Ironwood Golf Course in Normal next Monday.
“Hopefully (scoring) five of our top 10 helps their confidence going into some pretty tough competition,” Keeven said. “We’ve been right there all year and have beaten Triad half the times we’ve seen them probably. So we’ve been right there on the cusp. If they can just buckle down and make minimal mistakes then stay confident through their 18 holes, then I think we have a good shot and I think five of the top 10 yesterday proves we’ll get several girls out as individuals if we can’t take over those three teams.”