ST. VINCENT GOLFERS ONE-UP DADS

Take that, Dad.

After hearing how great the St. Vincent golf teams of 1974 and 75 were, the Indian golfers of 2001 have something they can tell their dads about.

St. Vincent's golf team broke the school record of 146 -- which dated back to 1974 -- twice in the span of a week.

St. Vincent, the state runner-up in 1A last year, posted a score of 143 last Friday then bettered that Wednesday with a 142 at the Perryville Country Club. Anything less than 150 is considered outstanding at the high school level.

"It's kind of funny," St. Vincent coach Tom Prost said. "I've got three golfers whose dads played together in 74 and 75. All these years, they'd brag about being the best the school's seen. Now these kids come along and set the record twice. Now they've got something to talk about. They all laugh about that."

St. Vincent has had three golfers -- Craig Schumer, Adam Prost and Andrew Prost -- score 34s this year. Jon Paulus, Wes Richardet and Mark Gotto have also added to the team's success.

The Indians had five golfers Wednesday score a 37 or better.

"I have six really good golfers and these guys are all good off the tees and good in the fairways," St. Vincent coach Tom Prost said. "But they all know how to manage a golf course. They're all experienced and have been playing since at least the fifth or sixth grade. You can't teach how to manage a golf course in two years of high school."

St. Vincent has placed in the top four at state the last three years.

Emphasis on coast'

Talk about a natural.

Cape Central's Kim Pancoast competed in the 3,200-meter run for the first time this year at Jackson's dual meet Tuesday.

All Pancoast did was shatter the school record, running the race in 11:23. Her time broke the old school record -- set by Brittany Ballard in 1999 -- by 15 seconds.

"She just didn't get it by a couple of seconds," Cape Central coach Lawrence Brookins said. "She blew it up."

Pancoast normally runs the 800 and 1,600 and runs a leg on the 4x800 and 4x400 relay teams. But she performed so well Tuesday that she may stick with the race.

"We thought that at this last meet, the 3,200 might be a nice change of pace," Brookins said. "We like letting them try different events at dual meets. She's a good runner so I knew she'd do well. It did surprise me that she did well enough to break a record."

Pancoast's primary race is the 1,600.

Brookins said the coaching staff will keep an eye on some of the other 3,200 times around the state. If Pancoast's time is comparable to some of the best times, Pancoast may be pulled from one of the relays.

Welker headed to MAC

Cape Central's Justin Welker, one of the best all-around baseball players in the area and a three-year starter, signed to play baseball at Mineral Area College last week.

Welker, a left-handed power hitter who plays first base, right field and pitcher, was also a team captain and defensive end on the football team and he considered trying to play football at the next level.

Welker was recruited by MAC as a position player, but Central coach Steve Williams said the junior college coaches thought he could see time on the mound if he continued to improve.

After having a stellar junior season, Welker got off to somewhat of a slow start this season, but he's starting to swing the bat well now. He's hitting .273 with three home runs.

"He'll be an asset to MAC's program," Williams said. "Their coaches were excited about having him in their program. He's got great athletic ability and you know he's going to work hard enough."

Golf districts to start

District golf tournaments will begin this week.

Notre Dame will be hosting the Class 2A, District 1 tournament at Bent Creek on Monday.

In 4A,Cape Central and Jackson will compete at the Quail Creek Golf Course in St. Louis on Wednesday.

Fredericktown and Perryville, both in Class 3A, District 1, will play at Eagle Lake Golf Course in Fredericktown Friday.

St. Vincent will take part in the Class 1A, District 1 at the Pine Valley Golf Course in Fort Leonard Wood on Thursday.