The final swing for area golfers is state meets

The Jackson Indians, enjoying one of their best golf seasons, will be among three area teams in the Missouri Golf Championships on Monday and Tuesday.

Jackson recently won its second district tournament after going 12-2 in dual meets this season.

Despite a strong season, the district title was the first tournament win all year for the Indians. They twice finished runner-up in large tournaments, finishing a stroke out of the lead on both occasions.

"The kids came together at the right time," Jackson coach Ron Cook said. "I'm happy and proud for them. I think they'll stay focused in the state tournament, too."

In posting their sparkling dual mark, the Indians set a couple of school records. They shot a school-record nine-hole total of 142 at Bootheel Golf Club in Sikeston, Mo., and shot a best-ever 145 on their home course, Kimbeland Country Club.

Jackson will compete in the Class 4A tournament at Silo Country Club in Bolivar, Mo. It's the school's fourth state appearance as a team and first since 1997.

Competing for the Indians will be junior Matt Litzelfelner, seniors Peyton Sims and Kyle Perry and sophomores Blake McDowell and Eric Fraley.

"We set a goal of getting in the top eight and I don't know what will happen from there," Cook said. "If they can put two days together of 315, we can be in the top eight. We hope to do better than that."

St. Vincent will make its annual pilgrimage to the state level when it returns to Payne Stewart Golf Course in Springfield, Mo., where it won its second 1A state championship last year.

St. Vincent recently won its district at Ste. Genevieve Country Club in Ste. Genevieve, Mo. Competing at the state event for the Indians will be seniors Wes Richardet, Adam Prost and Andrew Prost, junior Joe Carron and sophomore Scott Prost. Richardet and Andrew Prost both played for last year's champs.

Notre Dame made its first 2A state team appearance last year and returns after a second-place district finish at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson, Mo.

Notre Dame returns to Island Green Golf Club in Republic, Mo. Competing for the Bulldogs will be seniors Tim Buerck and Paul Unterreiner and juniors Adam Fenwick, Adam Rigdon and Jordan Kuper.

Central sophomore Todd Obergoenner will compete individually in the 4A state tournament after he placed third in the district.

The top 15 finishers in each class are awarded all-state status.

Kicking off districts

The 11-team Class 1A-3A District 1 soccer tournament opens today at St. Louis Notre Dame.

Perryville is the top seed and is the only team to receive a first-round bye. The Pirates get a free pass to Monday's quarterfinals, where they will face either Sikeston, Valley Park or De Soto at 5:30 p.m.

Cape Girardeau Notre Dame is the fourth seed and will open against the fifth-seeded host at 1 p.m. today. St. Vincent, seeded sixth, will face No. 3 St. Pius at 11 a.m. The championship game will be at 4 p.m. Friday.

The four-team Class 4A, District 1 tournament opens today in Jackson. Top-seeded Jackson plays No. 4 Farmington at noon, and No. 2 Central and No. 3 Poplar Bluff follow at 1:30. The championship game will be Tuesday at a time to be determined.

District track

Area track and field athletes begin their drive for the state meet today with district meets for all four classes.

The Class 2A, District 1 meet will be hosted by Notre Dame Regional High School at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau. Perryville will host the Class 3A, District 1 meet, while Central and Jackson will travel to Poplar Bluff, Mo., for the 4A, District 1 competition. The Class 1A, District 1 meet will be in Fulton Mo.

Hyslop signs with UMSL

Central's Sarah Hyslop has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Hyslop, a 5-foot-10 center, led the Tigers in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 17 points and seven rebounds per game. Hyslop, who could play any position on the floor, was an all-SEMO Conference selection after helping the Tigers to a 17-9 record.

Bohnsack signs with Truman

Central all-state high jumper Lainie Bohnsack has signed a letter of intent to attend Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo.

Bohnsack finished third at state last year with a jump of 5 feet, 4 inches. The senior, competing in today's district meet, has matched that height this season.

Lewer to play in college

Kelly's Natalie Lewer will continue her softball career at Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, Ark., after recently signing a letter of intent.

Lewer, a pitcher/outfielder, has a career record of 34-4 for the Hawks while striking out 278 batters in 235 innings. She compiled a 6-2 record her senior season with a 0.12 ERA. She also had a .272 career batting average.

Jeff Breer is a sports writer with the Southeast Missourian.