BLOOMINGTON - Thursday's chilly conditions for the Class A State Golf Tournament's practice round weren't anything close to what Massac County is used to during October. "We get totally different weather (in downstate Metropolis)," said Massac County coach J.R. Conkle.

It's about a five-hour trip from Metropolis to Prairie Vista Golf Course, site of the Class A state tourney. Conkle knows what will warm up the journey home on Saturday night - bringing back the first-place trophy.

With four golfers returning from last year's runner-up squad, including medalist Mason Jacobs, Massac County figures to be the team to beat when the first round begins at 8:30 a.m. today. The tourney concludes Saturday.

Massac County shot 623 last year, coming up five strokes behind Peoria Christian. Jacobs, then a sophomore, fired rounds of 66-71 for a 7-under-par 137, setting Class A records for single round and 36-hole totals.

This season, Jacobs has only two rounds over par while putting together a 68.85 average.

"He had a really successful summer on the AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) tour. He really played well and he's carried that over," said Conkle. "He seems to handle pressure well. He's a strong competitor. He strives when he is pushed."

Three of Jacobs' teammates - senior Travis Pullen, junior Eli Glass and sophomore Dustin Korte - also competed in last year's state. They will be joined this weekend by senior Wilson Korte and junior Calvin Wientjes.

Massac County made the long trip north last month for the Central Catholic Invitational, finishing second to Class AA power University High with a 311.

"They've been talking about (winning state). This year's top four are juniors and sophomores. We're going through a good stretch," said Conkle. "They've worked hard all summer to improve their games. I couldn't ask for a better work ethic."

After looking at sectional scores from around the state, Conkle knows Massac County will be challenged by several teams.

Three of the other sectional champions - Rockford Lutheran, Central Catholic and Hillsboro - posted similar numbers to Massac County. The other sectional champion, Monmouth-Roseville, and Effingham St. Anthony tied for fifth in the Central Catholic tourney, 11 strokes behind Massac County.

Peoria Christian also qualified for the 15-team field. But with No. 2 player Jessica Parmenter electing to participate in the girls tourney this year, Peoria Christian isn't planning a repeat. The Chargers' best hope for victory is sophomore Jonathan Hauter in the individual competition.

"We have no chance," said Peoria Christian coach Steve Hauter, Jonathan's father. "We're just real happy to get there. With Jessica, maybe you're talking differently. We're just thinking about shooting around 330 both days and 660 would put us in the middle."

The middle is not where Central Catholic's hopes lie.

The Saints are making their first state appearance as a team since 1992. None of their six players have participated in the state before.

However, Central Catholic hopes its local knowledge of Prairie Vista and strong play in the last couple weeks can produce a dramatic victory or at least the first trophy since the second of two straight third places in 1983.

"You have to keep the ball down," said Central sophomore Tim Gaertner. "Probably the toughest thing is hitting short shots into the wind. It just knocks them down. We know some things we wouldn't know if it was just our second time playing here."

Most of the Saints' golfers return from last year. They won the regional and went into the sectional with high hopes before finishing last.

"We were embarrassed at the sectional last year, so we had a chip on our shoulder," said Central junior Michael Ginnetti.

Perhaps the real key for Central Catholic will be how it handles state tournament jitters. Many state rookies wilt under the pressure.

"There are going to be a lot of mental issues because of the wind and coldness," said Saints' senior Eric Naleway. "It will be a little different from other tournaments that have nice weather."

The Saints' balanced lineup paid off in their sectional victory at Sheldon's Shewami Country Club. Sophomore Greg Naleway led them with 75, while everyone else shot 80 or better - Gaertner (77), Ginnetti (77), Eric Naleway (79), freshman Jake Walter (80) and senior Alex Weber (80).

"They've really come together as a team," said Saints' coach Tom Prescher. "I'm trying to get them to focus on the weather, take what the course gives them, not go at pins and not play themselves out of it the first day. You can't win it the first day, but you sure can lose it."

Besides Jacobs, other returning top-10 finishers from last year are Rockford Lutheran's Jeff Kellen (tied for sixth) and Benton's Elijah Sentel and Metro-East Lutheran's Ed Pluhar (tied for eighth each).

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Tournament info

WHEN: Today and Saturday (8:30 a.m. both days)

WHERE: Bloomington

SITE: Prairie Vista Golf Course, 6,709 yards, par-72

TEAMS: Central Catholic, Benton, Bismarck-Henning, Byron, Champaign St. Thomas More, Effingham St. Anthony, Erie, Hamilton, Hillsboro, Massac County, Monmouth-Roseville, Peoria Christian, Raymond Lincolnwood, Rockford Lutheran, Waterloo Gibault

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Cal Atteberry, Maroa-Forsyth; Shane Convery, Raymond Lincolnwood; John Eckhart, Kewanee; Tim Gaertner, Central Catholic; David Griffin, St. Anthony; Jonathan Hauter, Peoria Christian; Joe Hoskins, Monmouth-Roseville; Mason Jacobs, Massac County; Andrew Jones, Bismarck-Henning; Andrew Jorn, Hillsboro; Jeff Kellen, Rockford Lutheran; Ryan Keller, Nashville; Dustin Korte, Massac County; Tim Ludwigsen, Lisle; Jacob Schertz, Byron; Sam Schmidt, Pinckneyville; Max Scodro, Chicago Parker; Elijah Sentel, Benton; Logan Smith, Anna-Jonesboro; Coby Thompson, Knoxville; Sam Wells, St. Thomas More.

AREA COMPETITORS: Central Catholic - Tim Gaertner, Michael Ginnetti, Eric Naleway, Greg Naleway, Jake Walter, Alex Weber; Olympia - Jay Frietag