Bulldogs Fifth, T-town Splits, Altamont Falls To Tuscola

The Effingham St. Anthony boys golf team competed in The Challenge at The Den at The Den Golf Course in Bloomington Thursday hosted by Normal West High School.  In the Ryder Cup format the Bulldogs finished a respectable fifth with four total points. 

Normal West scored five and won a sudden death playoff against Normal Community, also with five points. The top two were followed by Providence Catholic 4 1/2, St. Charles East 4 1/2, Effingham St. Anthony 4, Neuqua Valley 4, Washington 3 and Bloomington 2.

"After the drive, we were a little stiff so we started a little slow," said St. Anthony Coach Phil Zaccari. "In the first set of matches we managed only a half point. One of those matches was by one hole and another was by two.  The second set of matches we came on strong taking 3 1/2 out of four possible points.  I like this format, especially with this year's squad.  It forces us to play one hole at a time, something we need to work on.  And then, competing against these larger schools with deeper squads it proves to our players that we can play with anyone.  Another valuable lesson.

"I was proud of the way the team competed and did not give up after the first set of matches.  We have some time off before Mattoon Invitational next weekend so we can work on our short game and putting some more."

The Challenge at The Den

Individual Matches

Gavin Halsey (Bloomington) def. Garrett Hixenbaugh (St. Anthony) - 2 & 1

Brady Quackenbush (NCHS) def. Drew Rouches (Neuqua Valley) - 1 up

Drew Rouches (Neuqua Valley) def. Gavin Halsey (BHS) - 3 & 2

Garrett Hixenbaugh (St. Anthony) def. Brady Quackenbush (NCHS) - 4 & 2

Ricky Costello (Providence) def. Steven Mullins (West) - 1 up

Drew Pershing (Washington) def. Kyle Jacobs (St. Charles East) - 3 & 1

Steven Mullins (West) def. Kyle Jacobs (St. Charles East) - 2 & 1

Drew Pershing (Washington) def. Ricky Costello (Providence) - 2up

David Gerig (NCHS) def. Jarrett DeFields (Bloomington) - 3 & 2

Sam Cash (West) def. Matt Johnson (Washington) - 1 up

Sam Cash (West) def. Jarrett DeFields (Bloomington) - 5 & 4

David Gerig (NCHS) def. Matt Johnson (Washington) - 1 up

Jimmy Roach (Neuqua Valley) def. Connor Greene (St. Anthony) - 4 & 2

Connor McCadam (St. Charles East) def. Ryan Miller (Providence) - 2 up

Connor Greene (St. Anthony) vs. Connor McCadam (St. Charles East) - AS

Ryan Miller (Providence) def. Jimmy Roach (Neuqua Valley) - 1 up

Better Ball Matches

Beau Byers/Spencer Jackson (Bloomington) def. Jack Berlett/Brody Hibbard (Washington) - 2 & 1

Jared Hutchison/Sam Wortman (St. Anthony) vs. Mickey Brick/Will McCabe (Providence) - AS

Mickey Brick/Will McCabe (Providence) def. Beau Byers/Spencer Jackson (Bloomington) - 1 up

Jared Hutchison/Sam Wortman (St. Anthony) def. Jack Berlett/Brody Hibbard (Washington) - 2 & 1

Zach Thompson/Kyle Edwards (NCHS) vs. Brad Riv /Jake Bertke (St. Charles East) - AS

WIll VanAlsburg/Brett Grey (Neuqua Valley) def. Andre Bulls/Brandon Bulls (West) - 1 up

Andre Bulls/Brandon Bulls (West) vs. Brad Riva/Jake Bertke (St. Charles East) - AS

Zach Thompson/Kyle Edwards (NCHS) vs. Will VanAlsburg/Brett Grey (Neuqua Valley) - 1 up

Scramble Matches

Luke Molloy/Mick Vyzral (St. Charles East) def. Alex Pratt/Sam Giessenger (Bloomington) - 4 & 2

Anders Nelson/Steven Grabowski (Neuqua Valley) def. Hunter Watts/Conner Davis (Washington) 1 up

Luke Mollo /Mick Vyzral (St. Charles East) def. Anders Nelson/Steven Grabowski (Neuqua Valley) - 1 up

Hunter Watts/Conner Davis (Washington) def. Alex Pratt/Sam Giessenger (Bloomington) - 3 & 2

Kevin McEneany/Doom Cascino (Providence) def. Parker Miller/Rob Wuetrich (NCHS) - 2 up

Peyton Ferrara/Brock Hirn (West) def. Nick Wortman/Jeff Niebrugge (St. Anthony) - 1 up

Peyton Ferrara/Brock Hirn vs. Parker Miller/Rob Wuetrich (NCHS) - AS

Nick Wortman/Jeff Niebrugge (St. Anthony) def. Kevin McEnean /Dom Cascino (Providence) - 4 & 2

At Tuscola

Tuscola claimed a match victory over Altamont 166-186 at the Ironhose Golf Course Thursday.

Scoring for Altamont were Justin McGinnis 42, Adam Mayhaus 43, Griffin Jackman 49 and Cameron Jackman 52. Non-scorer was Logan Deadmond 55. The Indians drop to 1-5 and return to action today at St. Elmo Country Club against Ramsey at 4 p.m.

At Sullivan

The Teutopolis boys golf squad captured a 178-210 win over Sullivan while the girls team fell 220-224.

In boys action, T-town's Ryan Sandschafer medaled with a 43. Also scoring for the Shoes were Justin Kowalski 44, Chad Zerrusen 45 and Christian Deters 46. Non-scorers were Evan Schlink 47 and Kyle Brumleve 48.

Sullivan's Sam Mulligan and Tristan Hendrix tied with a 48 followed by Gavin Harlin 55 and Joey Danson 48. Non-scorers were Layne McMahon 59 and Liam Bechthold 63.

T-town is now 4-3 overall.

In the girls meet, Sullivan edged the Shoes by four strokes. The Redskins' Emmalee Hortenstine was medalist with a 43. Also scoring were Beretta Phelps 55, Arielle Heppe 57 and Jessica Yantis 65. Non-scorers were Alexis Matlock 67 and Kali Forsythe 68.

Scoring for the Shoes were Haley Giles 49, Casey Willenborg 55, Ellie Ruholl 56 and Lea Thoele 64. T-town is now 1-6-1 on the season.