GOLF: Panthers advance to Boys Golf Sectional

Led by Lee Wittenauer's 85, the Pinckneyville boys golf team placed third at Tuesday's Waterloo-Gibault Class A Regional at Acorn Golf Links, earning the right to participate at next Monday's Trenton-Wesclin Sectional.

The Panthers top four shot a combined 366, edging out Chester by two strokes for the final advancing spot at Waterloo. Nashville claimed first overall with a score of 342, and Gibault was second with a 353, led by medalist Sam Range's low round of the day, 75.

Jordan Grissom (92), Grant Thompson (94) and Alec Brand (95) rounded out Pinckneyville's qualifying scores. Hunter Clark (110) and Thomas Huggins (116) also took part in the Regional for the Panthers.

Along with nine other teams from area Regionals, the Panthers, Hawks, and Hornets will all head to Governor's Run Golf Course in Carlyle for the Sectional tournament on Monday.

Joining them there as individuals will be three Du Quoin golfers that advanced from the Hamilton Country Regional at Green Hills Golf Club in Mt. Vernon. Indians Ethan Keller and Jacob Valier along with Christian Fellowship's Kolton Pavloff each made the top ten list of individuals not on an advancing team.

A fourth Du Quoin golfer, Noah Campbell, actually shot well enough during his round to advance, but was eliminated on the third playoff hole after being part of a four-way tie for the last three advancing positions that included both Keller and Valier. All three shot 91, as did Woodlawn's Wiatt Jennings.

Pavloff shot an 81, just four strokes back of the day's best score, which came from medalist Landon Vaughan (Hamilton County) and Garrett Mott (Vienna). Vaughn won a playoff on the first hole.

DHS finished the tournament sixth as a team with a score of 383. John Monroe (110) and Grant Woodside (114) also competed for the Indians.

Advancing teams from Green Hills included Hamilton County (328), Carmi-White County (336) and Vienna (358).