The first golf trip to Camdenton this season for the Helias Crusaders didn't go so well.
The stakes are bigger this time as the Crusaders play today and Tuesday in the Class 3 state tournament at Old Kinderhook.
"We're excited and I think we're ready to play two good rounds of golf," Helias coach Dan Campbell said.
In mid-April, Helias finished sixth in Camdenton Invitational, carding a team score of 330.
"We didn't play very good that day," Campbell said. "The boys were disappointed, I was disappointed.
"But it's served as motivation."
Since the Invitational, the Crusaders made a handful of trips to Old Kinderhook to prepare for state.
"We know it as good as we're going to know it," Campbell said. "They know what club they're going to hit, it's a matter of executing the shot.
"We've posted better scores down there, but that's practice without any tournament pressure."
Helias advanced to state by winning both the district and sectional tournaments. In last Monday's sectional at Marshfield, the Crusaders posted a team score of 295.
"That's the best score I can remember us having since I've been a coach," Campbell said. "We threw out a 79, that's how well we played.
"We're playing well right now, I hope we can keep it going."
Helias returns three players to state from a team that finished sixth last year at Sedalia Country Club.
"We didn't play up to our expectations." Campbell said. "We feel like we should have brought home a trophy."
Campbell said the Crusaders need to total a score close to 300 each day to contend this year. That means the Crusaders will need to stay away from big numbers on holes.
"If we can scramble and a make a bogey, that's OK," Campbell said. "It's when you start posting doubles or worse when you get into real trouble."
That often starts with a poor tee shot.
"Everybody seems to have one or two bad holes and it's because they hit it out of bounds off the tee," Campbell said. "We may have to hit an iron off the tee at times just to make sure we're not getting into trouble when we don't need to be.
"If we can get each player to make 10-12 pars, that would be great because pars can go a long way in a state tournament."
Jack Rundle, a senior, will be making his third state tournament appearance. Cole Higgins, another senior who has signed with Lincoln, figure to contend for individual all-state honors. Rundle tied for 23rd at state last year, while Higgins tied for 36th. Both shot 82s at Old Kinderhook earlier this year and figure to be in the hunt for all-state honors.
"They are both capable of making it," Campbell said.
Ethan Johnson and Lane Plunkett are Helias' junior qualifiers. Alex Gentry, a sophomore who led Helias with a 78 in the Camdenton Invitational, rounds out the team.
With temperatures expected to reach the low 90s, the hilly course figures to present some physical challenges.
"We're going to have to take some of that cargo out of our bags," Campbell said. "I don't know how they carry them sometimes."
With an expanded field of 92 golfers, play with be in foursomes. Helias will be paired with players from the other three sectional team champions.
"If a player can win his group, that's great because it's good for the team score," Campbell said. "But you need to remember just to play your game and not get caught up in that. Just play the course."
Priory, Borgia and Pembroke Hill join Helias among the team favorites.
"I hope we're within striking distance or leading heading into Tuesday," Campbell said. "You can't win this tournament on the first day, but you sure can lose it."
Priory was second as a team at state last season. Borgia was fourth, while Pembroke Hill was fifth. Defending champion Logan-Rogersville did not qualify.