IHSA Golf: Panthers Qualify five for Sectionals
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Two Perry County golfers-both representing Pinckneyville Community High School-advanced out of IHSA Boys Class A Regional competition Tuesday afternoon.
Senior Preston Chapman and sophomore Adam Valentine will play Tuesday at the Rend Lake Sectional, following rounds of 85 and 87, repectively, at Red Hawk Golf Club.
The host Panthers shot 352 to finish fourth in the final team standings, missing a sectional berth by a dozen shots. Champion Benton (290), Hamilton County (311) and third place Nashville (340) earned sectional team berths.
Du Quoin (387) was 10th among the 13 squads entered.
For the Indians, junior Jake Stanhouse (43-45) was just one shot shy of the individual qualifying standard, firing an 88 to tie with Pinckneyville's Justin Jenkel.
Windy, cool and rainy conditions greeted golfers as play began following a brief delay. While the rain let up and temperatures warmed into the high 60's, the wind didn't go away.
Only four golfers managed to shoot 74 or better as Red Hawk's challenging layout-especially the back nine-played rough all day.
The Benton duo of Andrew Mitchell and Bryce Doughty each shot even par 70. Zach Tate, also from Benton, had a 73. Hamilton County's Donald Christianson (74) wasn't far behind.
Doughty claimed the individual medalist honors, besting Tate in a five-hole playoff.
"A 290 was a good score given the conditions and everything," Benton coach Scott Simpson said. "I'm just very proud of them. We had four very solid scores."
The Rangers #4 finisher-Thomas Simpson-had the seventh best round in the tournament with a 77.
PINCKNEYVILLE CLASS A SECTIONAL
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS-1. Benton 290; 2. Hamilton County 311; 3. Nashville 340; 4. Pinckneyville 352; 5. West Frankfort 354; 6. Woodlawn 364; 7. Sparta 372; 8. Waltonville 377; 9. Okawville 381; 10. Du Quoin 387; 11. Zeigler-Royalton/Christopher 465; 12. Sandoval 524; 13. Norris City (NCOE) NTS.
PINCKNEYVILLE (352)-Preston Chapman 43-42-85, Adam Valentine 45-42-87, Justin Jenkel 46-42-88, Zach Kuberski 46-46-92, Hayden Kelly 50-58-108, Will Travis 60-64-124.
Du QUOIN (387)-Jake Stanhouse 43-45-88, Ben Hirsch 42-52-94, Jacob Fisher 52-49-101, Eli Epplin 48-56-104, Bradon Woodside 62-64-126, Andrew Riley 62-64-126.
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS (overall)
1. Kyle Doughty, Benton, 70.
2. Andrew Mitchell, Benton, 70.
3. Zach Tate, Benton, 73.
4. Donald Christianson, Hamilton County, 74.
5. Sam Waters, Waltonville, 76.
ADVANCING INDIVIDUALS (top 8 finishers not members of top three teams)
1. Sam Waters, Waltonville, 76.
2. Kaleb Kessler, Sparta, 76.
3. Nick Tannahille, Woodlawn, 82.
4. Shawn Jackaniz, West Frankfort, 83.
5. Nolan Jordan, West Frankfort, 84/
6. Preston Chapman, Pinckneyville, 85.
7. Kirk Dunbar, Woodlawn, 87.
8. Adam Valentine, Pinckneyville, 87.
GIRLS SECTIONAL GOLF
At the Freeburg Class A Girls Sectional Wednesday, three Pinckneyville Community High School girls golfers survived the tough layout at the Orchards in Freeburg to advance into next week's Anna-Jonesboro Sectional.
Junior Kelsey Cicardi (98) will be joined by the frosh duo of Olivia Mathis (100) and Heather McDaniel (105) at the sectional.
PCHS (427) missed a team sectional berth by just three shots.
Freeburg (371), Steeleville (423) and Anna-Jonesboro (424) all advanced.
Du Quoin's Blair Hester competed at the Okawville Sectional Wednesday, but didn't qualify individually.