Prep Golf: Twice As Nice
History has a way of repeating itself.
It did for the Harrisburg High School boys' golf team over the weekend in the best way possible.
For the second straight year, Harrisburg took home the team trophy at the McDonald's Challenge at Union County Country Club in Anna, beating out 16 other teams.
Harrisburg finished with a 305, one shot clear of second place finisher Benton with a 306.
Nashville was third with a 311, while Massac County finished fourth with a 316. M
Marion (328), Carterville (336), Hamilton County (342), West Frankfort (348), Chester (356) and Herrin (360) rounded out the top 10.
Stelleville (367), Trico (386), Anna-Jonesboro (404), Vienna (408), Goreville (410) and Murphysboro (417) completed the field.
Carterville's Jacob Eklund, who will be playing his college golf at Kansas State next fall, took home individual honors with a 68, edging out Marion's Brenden Lewis, who shot a 69.
Tyler Wall from Nashville, along with Nate Caudle, of Wayne City, each fired a 71 for a third and fourth place finish.
Harrisburg was balanced at the 18-hole tournament as Patrick Bittle finished with a top-five performance, finishing sixth overall with a 72. Ben Fowler, who picked up his first medalist honor of the season last Thursday at Carmi, shot a 74 and tied for 10th overall, while Garrett Jenkins wasn't too far off from Fowler's pace, finishing with a 75.
Bryce Beal rounded out the top four scores for Harrisburg, carding a 84, while Camden Schiff (94) and Jacob Mills (100).
Harrisburg head coach Steve Black once again cited the importance of that fourth score, Beal's 84, as being the difference in coming out on top as Harrisburg was just 1 of three teams to have three players shoot in the 70's.
"My No. 1, 2 and 3 guys all played very well, especially Ben, who after shooting a triple bogey on No. 15, didn't let him bother him and pared No. 16, 17 and 18 and that was really big. He showed why he is a senior and didn't let that get to him and really finished strong for us.
"Patrick played steady all day long. I know he was 3-over par after the first five holes and ended up 2-over par for the day. I saw his birdie on No. 13 and he kept it together all day with a good up and down game. I'm just tickled to death for the boys, who were ecstatic. We had a great day."
The HHS boys' golf team returns to the links Tuesday at West Frankfort's Franklin County Country Club at 4 p.m., while the girls will host Mt. Carmel today (Monday) at Shawnee Hills Country Club at 4 p.m.