PERRYVILLE: A SWINGING TOWN; ST. VINCENT, PHS QUALIFY FOR STATE GOLF TOURNEYS

It will be something of a Perryville party when the state high school golf tournament is held Monday and Tuesday.

Perryville High, competing in Class 3A, gained a state tournament berth for the first time since the program was revived six years ago.

St. Vincent, competing in Class 1A, will be out to defend its state championship.

"I think it's great for the community that both programs have made it to state," said St. Vincent coach Tom Prost. "Perryville has really come on."

Said Perryville coach Lynn O'Neal, "We're really excited about the opportunity to have the entire team at state."

Also, Notre Dame will have two golfers in Class 2A while Jackson will have one entrant in Class 4A.

The 1A and 2A meets will be held in Columbia while 3A will be in Sedalia and 4A in Fulton.

Perryville narrowly missed out on a district team title last week as the Pirates finished one stroke behind champion Ste. Genevieve. But the runnerup finish still secured the Pirates a state berth.

Senior Derek Cattoor will be making his third state appearance. Other Perryville golfers in the state meet will be Ryan Besand, Jeff Hotop, Nathan Rellergert and Andy Tanz.

"We know we'll be facing some great competition (at state), but I think the guys are looking forward to the challenge," O'Neal said.

St. Vincent, like Perryville, finished second in its district. The Indians scored 316 to wind up eight strokes behind Viburnum.

While the Indians, as the defending 1A state champion, probably ranked as the pre-district favorite, Prost was not all that surprised.

"Viburnum has a very good team. They were third in the state last year," Prost said.

Three of the Indians' five golfers played in the state meet last season, led by all-stater Craig Schumer, who finished in the top 10. Others with state experience are Ryan Prost and John Paulus, who sizzled at the district with a 72.

Rounding out the Indians' lineup are Ben Favier and Dusty Cattoor.

Tom Prost realizes the Indians will need their share of luck to repeat as state champs. But he doesn't rule out the possibility.

"If Viburnum is the best we'll see, then I think with a few good breaks we could do it again," he said. "It always takes a little bit of luck (to win state)."

Notre Dame's Nick Martin and Tim Buerck made the individual state cut after finishing in the top 10 in the district. The Bulldogs were third as a team, behind Arcadia Valley and champion Kennett, who both qualified for state.

"We really thought we'd have a chance to get the entire team through (to state)," said Notre Dame coach Chris Janet. "We just didn't get the job done, but it's great to see Nick and Tim both make it."

Jackson's lone state qualifier is Gabe Estes, who also qualified individually last year. Poplar Bluff and Sikeston finished one-two in the district and qualified their entire teams.

"It's nice to see Gabe finish out his senior year with a trip to state," said Jackson coach Ron Cook.