The Helias Crusaders took four golfers to the state tournament last year and brought home a trophy.
They are looking to use the same formula this year.
“They know every score is going to count,” Helias coach Jay Higgins said as the Crusaders prepared for the two-day Class 5 state tournament today and Tuesday at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau. “I think it will make them all grind for all 18 holes.”
The Crusaders advanced to state by winning their ninth consecutive district tournament title last Monday.
“It’s been a great run,” Higgins said. “That was goal No. 1 every season to win the district title.”
The top two teams in district advance their top four golfers to state, with the next top 12 individuals earning qualifying berths. Helias’ fifth golfer fell outside that cut line.
“You would have had to shoot an 82 to qualify out of our district, where you could have shot an 88 and made it out of any other district,” Higgins said.
Helias traveled Saturday to Cape Girardeau to walk the course before playing a practice round Sunday.
The Crusaders have experience at Dalhousie this season, taking second by one stroke behind Nixa in a tournament hosted by Cape Girardeau: Notre Dame.
“It’s narrow with fast greens,” Higgins said. “There’s not a lot of out of bounds, but there is a lot of tall grass that is a danger.
“You can score on the course if you hit the ball straight and play smart. You need to leave the driver in the bag a lot and hit a more irons off the tee. It’s what I call ‘boring golf,’ you just need to be patient. Seeing the course before, we’ll be fine.”
Davis Linhardt, a junior, led Helias at districts by tying for second with a 5-over 77 at Adams Pointe Golf Club in Blue Springs.
“Davis has been a rock for us,” Linhardt said. “His game has improved, his course management has improved, he’s really become the leader of the team.
“We can always count on him to post a good score.”
Linhardt tied for 47th at the state tournament last season.
Miles Vollet, a junior, tied for seventh at district with an 80.
“I’ve been surprised by Miles all year,” Higgins said. “He’s had one bad 18-hole tournament, but other than that, we’ve counted his score every time this season.”
Vollett didn’t play as a freshman and was on the JV as a sophomore before entering the season as the No. 5 golfer on the varsity. Higgins said Vollet has been consistent with scores in the high 70s and low 80s.
“We are really happy with those scores,” Higgins said.
Archer Schnieders, a sophomore, tied for ninth with an 81 at districts.
“He’s hitting the ball really well, it’s just that it’s not showing up in his scores all the time,” Higgins said.
Schnieders has been dealing with a growth spurt this season.
“People don’t realize you have to change your swing, it’s been tough on him, but there’s not a kid out there I would trade him for right now,” Higgins said.
Schnieders tied for 11th at state last season.
Burke Bauer, another sophomore, shot an 83 at districts to tie for 18th for the Crusaders.
“He’s been steady for us,” Higgins said. “We know what we’re going to get out of Burke.”
Bauer tied for 47th at state in 2021.
There’s not a senior among Helias’ qualifiers.
“I’m excited for them, because if we can do well with them, the future looks like a lot of fun,” Higgins said.
Helias, which shot a low of 293 in a tournament this season, has a goal of posting a 620 team score Tuesday.
“If we can do that, we’ll be right there,” Higgins said. “I’ll take that right now and walk away.”
This is Helias’ second season in Class 5 after being bumped up from Class 3 due to the MSHSAA championship factor.
“I didn’t realize how big of a difference it is,” Higgins said. “I knew it was in football, baseball and basketball, but it also is in golf. The amount of talent throughout the state in the big schools is amazing and fun to watch.”
Chaminade returns to defend its Class 5 title. Among the other team title contenders are C.B.C., Priory and De Smet.