Bulldog Golfers Win Centralia Tourney

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Published on September 24 2012 6:43 am
Last Updated on September 24 2012 6:48 am
Written by Millie Lange

St. Anthony team members include, left to right, Garrett Hixenbaugh, Jack Niebrugge, Joe Powell, Connor Greene, Dalton Anderson, Cole Buehnerkemper, and Coach Phil Zaccari

CENTRALIA -- The St. Anthony High School boys golf team ended the tournament portion of its schedule by winning the Centralia Orphan Invitational – 4 Ball (Best Ball) Tournament at Centralia’s Greenview C.C. Saturday.

The Bulldogs were in this tournament for the first time, playing mostly Class 2A and Class 3A schools.

“We would like to thank Lee Bennett and Coach Kent VanCleve for letting us in this tournament on short notice,” said Coach Phil Zaccari. “They had a team drop out last minute so we were able to play today. Our depth really helped us in this best ball format. Our players compliment each other very well which allowed all of them to receive medals. The course was in great shape but then the wind kicked up big time. We were able to adjust which led to our solid scores.

"The team did great, they helped their partner and it seemed when one had a bad hole, their partner picked up the slack. Dalton Anderson had his midirons dialed in nearly getting a hole-in-one on number two. Joe Powell had the putter working pretty well leading to their 71. All three of our pairings birdied their last hole which secured the title. This is a really cool event that we will hopefully continue to play in annually. This was a great tune-up for regionals next
week. Hopefully things are coming together at the right time,” concluded Zaccari.

St. Anthony tallied 215 followed by Highland 218, Mount Vernon 222, Marion 222, Belleville  West 223, Centralia 226, Nashville 227, O'Fallon 237, Alton 238, Belleville East 243, Herrin 244, Mascoutah 254, Salem 254, Centralia Christ Our Rock 258, Woodlawn 265 and Granite City 277.

The Nashville team of Rueter and Wuebles led all scorers with a total of 69. St. Anthony's Joe Powell and Dalton Anderson finished fifth with a 71. Cole Buehnerkemper and Connor Greene finished eighth with a score of 72 and Jack Niebrugge and Garrett Hixenbaugh took 10th with a 72.