GOLF: Pavloff cards back-to-back 81's to finish 29th at State

Du Quoin Christian Fellowship senior Kolton Pavloff put together a solid performance at this past weekend's IHSA Boys Golf State Final Tournament, placing in a tie for 29th overall out of 108 golfers at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington, Ill.

"You can't duplicate the experience of a state tournament, you have to be there and go through it to know what it's like," Pavloff said. "It was a goal of mine since my sophomore year when I was first eligible. Coming up two shots shy last year definitely hurt a bit, so I was kind of on a mission this year. It was a state-or-bust situation."

Pavloff shot 81 on both days of the event in chilly, windy conditions. He sat in a tie for 26th after day one where he picked up birdies on holes four and five. On day two, Pavloff was one of only two golfers to birdie hole number six where he sank a 30-foot putt, but ran into some trouble with double-bogeys at nine, thirteen and fourteen.

"I played ok, but the back nine at that course just kicked my butt both days," Pavloff said. "I played well on the front and was able to minimize the damage. I let a few get away here and there, but no complaints."

Pavloff said he plans to continue his career at the collegiate level and is currently looking at four or five schools.

"Competing at the next level is something that I've always wanted to do," said Pavloff, "that will be another goal that I can check off my list."

Decatur's Hunter York was the individual state champion with a two-day total of 144, a stroke better than Eureka's Trevor Gold.

El Paso took home the team championship with a two-day, four-man total of 619. Winnetka (629) was second, Nashville (652) third.