Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
HERRIN — “Pine Lakes kinda kicked us in the teeth a little bit.”
That’s how Benton head boys golf coach Reggie Norman described Wednesday’s Herrin 2A Regional. His Rangers struggled, but outlasted the course and the field to come away with the program’s seventh straight regional championship despite a team score of 320.
“We got away with one today,” said Norman.
The tough course set up made scoring difficult for everybody. Benton senior River Stilley made it a Ranger sweep of the regional, overcoming a slow start to earn medalist honors. Stilley was four over through four holes, but played the final 14 holes at one over to finish with a 76.
That was two shots better than teammate Lincoln Thomas. Massac County’s Eli Brown and Carterville’s Carson Hagler tied for third with 79s. Carbondale’s CJ Robison and Anna-Jonesboro’s Aidan McFadden tied for the fifth individually with 80s.
Anna-Jonesboro, Carterville and Massac County all finished with team scores of 334. The tiebreaker is 5th player score of each team. Carterville took second, and Massac County edged A-J by a single stroke for the third and final team spot advancing to Monday’s Anna-Jonesboro Sectional to be held at Union County Country Club.
The Wildcats do have four individuals advancing to the sectional.
Final team scores:Benton 320, Carterville 334*, Massac Co. 334*, Anna-Jonesboro 334, Carbondale 355, Murphysboro 368, Herrin 374, Marion 396, Du Quoin 402, Harrisburg 453
*5th player score tiebreaker
Advancing Individuals: Aidan McFadden (Anna-Joneboro) 80, CJ Robison (Carbondale) 80, Taj Hodges (Anna-Jonesboro) 81, Carter McPheron (Du Quoin) 84, Parker Diehl (Murphysboro) 85, Landon Brown (Anna-Jonesboro) 86, Daylon Butler (Anna-Jonesboro) 87, Joshua Boyle (Murphysboro) 87, Cole Roberts (Carbondale) 90, Carver Hall (Herrin) 90
