The margin for error proved to be razor thin in Wednesday’s Illinois High School Association Class 2A Regional at the Macomb Country Club.
While the Macomb High boys just missed qualifying as a team, three members of the squad advanced through to Monday’s Class 2A Sectional competition at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington.
In team competition, the Bombers finished fifth out of nine teams with a score of 328.
“I was proud of the way my guys battled all day long,” said MHS coach Greg Duncan. “We got down early and found a way to string some pars together in the middle parts of the rounds and get back into the mix in the closing holes.”
Quincy Notre Dame claimed the regional title with a team score of 291.
Dunlap finished second at 318, followed by Galesburg and Jacksonville High at 327.
By IHSA rule, in the case of a team tie for the last qualifying spot, the fifth best scoring competitor’s score shall be used to break the tie.
In this case, Galesburg’s Cooper Perez (92) bested Jacksonville High’s Ryan Headen (98), allowing the Silver Streaks to advance as a team.
“We had both Galesburg and Jacksonville beat on fifth man scores,” Duncan noted.
Following the Bombers in the team standings were Lincoln (337), Limestone (355), Chillicothe IVC (363) and Canton (391).
Individually advancing for the Bombers were senior Ethan Dildine (75), sophomore Luke Chapla (84) and senior Isaac Leinbach (84).
Freshman Eli Griffith and senior Drew Taylor were part of a six-way tie at 85, joining Aidan Ross of Illinois Valley Central, Liam Bourn of Jacksonville H.S., Henry Stoltzenburg of Lincoln and Carson Fuiten of Lincoln.
By IHSA rule, ties for the last individual qualifying spot will be broken with an on-course play-off.
Fuiten won the play-off in earning the last individual spot. “I am gutted that Drew and Eli fell just short in a six-person playoff for the final individual spot,” said Duncan.
Toby Royer rounded out the scores for MHS as he carded a 99.
Other advancing individuals included AJ Charpentier of Jacksonville H.S. (72), Maddux Moore of Jacksonville H.S., (76), Landon Partee of Limestone (82), Carter Fuiten of Lincoln (83), Keller Schrock of Illinois Valley Central (83) and Tate Aue of Lincoln (84).
QND’s Beau Eftink captured medalist honors in carding a 66.
Members of the first, second, and third place teams advance to sectional play, along with the 10 best scoring individuals that are not members of a qualifying team.
