McAuley Catholic took second place in the Class 1 District 3 golf tournament at the par-71 Schifferdecker Golf Course to qualify the entire Warriors team for the state tournament.
“It was a great day,” McAuley coach Tony Witt said. “I was worried we weren’t going to be able to get this in with all of the rain. The guys played well today. This was our best team total that we’ve had all year. Playing the best at the end of the year is what you want. For us to go to state as a team is a huge accomplishment.”
McAuley totaled 358 as a squad, finishing behind Lockwood (354) for the top spot. The Warriors also finished with three all-district golfers. Evan Damour was the top local finisher with a seventh-place showing after a round of 86. Rocco Bazzano-Joseph tied for eighth with an 87, while Bradley Wagner finished in 10th with an 88. Trey Martinez carded a 97 and Liam Buerge scored a 110.
“It’s really big,” Witt said when asked what it meant to qualify the entire McAuley team. “These guys have worked really hard to this point. For our two seniors (Damour, Martinez) to go out with a team trip to state, that is a huge accomplishment for them and their hard work. To make
Also earning all-district honors and qualifying for the state tournament was College Heights’ Logan Decker, who finished in a tie for 11th place with an 89.
Pierce City’s Tyler Johnson also advanced after tying for 18th place overall with a 92.
Also scoring for the Cougars were Corbin Cronenwett (95), Hudson Clevenger (107), Gavin Doll (108) and Anderson Smith (121).
The Class 1 State Tournament will be played at the Country Club of Missouri in Columbia on May 15-16.
“I don’t want them to freak out and to enjoy the moment,” Witt said when asked what he wants to see from a team effort at the state tournament. “I don’t know when the last time a McAuley team has qualified for state, or if we ever have. We are going to enjoy it and take it one shot at a time.”
