Helias boys golf finishes second at Class 3 state championships

CAMDENTON, Mo. - The Helias Crusaders won't hang a banner, but they'll bring home their first boys golf state trophy in 20 years.

Helias finished runner-up Tuesday in the Class 3 state golf championships at Old Kinderhook, posting a season-low 293 on the second day of competition to finish with a team score of 602.

Priory won the state championship, matching Helias' 293 after carding a 299 on Monday to finish with a 592. Lutheran South was third with a 638, followed by Springfield Catholic, which won a tiebreaker for fourth place after tying St. Francis Borgia with a 641.

It's the first time Helias' boys golf team has posted a top-four finish at state since 1998.

Inclement weather suspended the first round of play Monday. The round was finished Tuesday morning, followed by the playing of the second round.

Helias had three all-state performances at the two-day event, and the Crusaders accounted for the best individual performance in each round.

Alex Gentry was tied for the lead after the first round with a 1-under 70. He shot a 74 on Tuesday to finish with a 144, taking third place out of 92 state qualifiers.

Jack Rundle posted an 81 in the opening round, but he bounced back with a 2-under 69 in the second round for a 150 to tie for sixth place.

Cole Higgins shot a 76 in each round for a 152 to tie for 10th place to earn all-state honors as well. Players finishing in the top 15 with ties received all-state recognition.

Lane Plunkett ended the tournament in a five-way tie for 23rd place with a 158. Plunkett had an 82 in the first round and shot a 76 on Tuesday.

Ethan Johnson also improved from Day 1 to Day 2 for the Crusaders, opening with an 89 on Monday before closing with a 74 to tie for 42nd place with a 163.

Gulshan Kodwani of Priory was the Class 3 individual champion. He was tied for Gentry at 70 after the first round, then posted another 70 on Tuesday to finish with a 2-under 140. His teammate, Peter Weaver, was second with a 143.

School of the Osage's Ethan Kline tied for 33rd with a two-day total of 161. He finished with an 80 in the first round and an 81 in the second.