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| SportsTuesday, October 16, 2007 12:15 AM CDT |
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U High boys golf wins 5th straight state title
NORMAL — The constant stream of fireworks going off at nearby Hancock Stadium were easily heard at Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State on Saturday afternoon. An offensive explosion was underway by ISU’s football team. | Photo gallery Golfers in the Class 2A State Tournament were playing their final nine holes when the booms began. They barely flinched, though. University High was providing a performance that already had lit up the rest of the field. The Pioneers won their fifth straight state championship in record-setting fashion. U High shot 296 Saturday for a two-day 583 total that broke the all-time state tourney record of 587 set by the Pioneers — who else? — two years earlier in the Class AA State at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course. “The last three tournaments you could just see they wanted it. Every tournament they got better and better,” said first-year U High coach Ryan Snell. “Yes, we’re at our home course, but you know what — they have to play against the course regardless what it is. I’m very proud of the kids.” Massac County finished a distant second, 29 strokes behind the Pioneers, but the Patriots also were celebrating a record by one of their own. Senior Mason Jacobs became the first golfer in the 91-year state tournament history to earn three individual titles. Jacobs began the final round two strokes behind U High’s Eric Meier, but fired a 4-under-par 32 on the front nine to take control. Even a double bogey by Jacobs on the last hole didn’t matter. He shot 67 for a 137 total, taking a four-stroke victory over Meier (73). “There are a lot of good players in this tournament, and I knew I had to battle today to catch up,” said Jacobs, a University of Illinois recruit. “It feels awesome. I’m speechless.” Jacobs’ 137 total tied his own state tourney individual record set two years ago at Prairie Vista Golf Course, which Peoria Christian’s Jonathan Hauter also matched Saturday in the Class 1A State at Prairie Vista. Besides Meier, two other U High golfers finished in the top 10 to earn All-State honors. Junior Kyle English sank a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 18 for a 72-143 to place fourth, while senior Sean Dozier was sixth (76-148). U High freshman Logan Stauffer barely missed the top 10, shooting 75-151 to tie for 11th. The rest of the U High lineup included junior Ben Kilborn (78-157) and sophomore Peter McKinzie (83-166). “All kudos to them,” said Massac County coach J.R. Conkle. “They came out and played awesome for two days. That’s great golf. They have a great team.” With U High taking a 17-stroke lead over Massac County after Friday’s first round, Conkle admitted it would “take a miracle” to upset the Pioneers. However, U High tried not to think about Friday. “You always want to do the best you can and not leave any strokes on the course,” said Dozier. “There were really some tough pins out there and tough greens. You go out and try to do the best you can and see how things turn out.” Jacobs and Meier, playing together in the last group, came out firing and trying to prove who was the best as both birdied the first hole. However, Mason added four more birdies on the front nine and grabbed a three-stroke lead entering the back nine. “He was awesome,” said Meier. “I was 1-over on the front. That’s not bad, but I was already five down for the day. Then he kept his foot down all the way on the back nine.” There was almost a two-shot swing on the par-4 12th. Meier’s approach settled 2 feet away for an easy birdie. After going just off the back edge with his second shot, Jacobs left his chip shot 8 feet short. But he sank the par putt for a two-stroke lead, and when Jacobs birdied the next two holes he could sense his third straight title. “I missed a lot of putts (Friday) and made a few today,” he said. “That was the difference.” Meier, who was medalist in four of his last six tournaments this season, was happy with both his own and U High’s play. “When you finish your senior year playing state 1-under par, it’s a pretty good feeling even if you don’t come home with first place,” he said. “We played great in regional, sectional and state. We really didn’t give anyone a chance. We just played too good. They would have had to play outstanding to even come close.” It wasn’t long after the final putt dropped when the inevitable question arose: Can U High win its sixth straight title in 2008 to match the record set by Monmouth from 1985-90 in Class A? “We’ll have four of our top six back, and we have a great JV program,” said Snell. “We had them all come out today and see what it’s about. I think they understand how important it is and what it takes to do it. I think they’re pumped, too. We have kids who still want to practice.” English, who has been a key member of the last three championships, wasn’t about to make any prediction. “We’ll try our best,” he said. “We have a chance, but we can’t take anything for granted.” Get area high school sports scores and statistics at Varsity Sports. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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slmgolfer wrote on Nov 6, 2007 1:06 PM:
fan wrote on Oct 15, 2007 8:01 PM:
U-High Golfer wrote on Oct 15, 2007 12:03 PM:
fan wrote on Oct 14, 2007 10:50 PM:
Alumni wrote on Oct 14, 2007 9:26 PM:
annonymous wrote on Oct 14, 2007 10:40 AM:
Geoff wrote on Oct 14, 2007 10:15 AM:
uhs!! wrote on Oct 13, 2007 11:38 PM:
Me wrote on Oct 13, 2007 10:00 PM:
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