If you're going to be the best, you're going to have to beat the best.
For the Helias Crusaders, they're going to see the state's best today and Tuesday in the Class 5 state golf championships at Sedalia Country Club.
"The difference in the talent from Class 3 to Class 5, I didn't think was going to be that big a deal," Helias coach Jay Higgins said. "Golf's golf. But truly, I was wrong, these bigger schools have a lot of great kids."
The Crusaders are one of seven teams in Class 5 that can post a team score and win a title as four Helias golfers advanced out of last Monday's district tournament in Joplin. To advance to state, a player needed to finish in the top 18 and ties among the district individuals.
Among the seven teams in Class 5, Chaminade and Joplin have five qualifiers. Lee's Summit West, Staley, Marquette and Hickman join Helias with four.
"There's no throwing out a score for us," Higgins said.
But Higgins doesn't think the Crusaders will feel any extra pressure.
"None of them ask what the other kids are shooting, they go about their own business on the course," he said.
Archer Schnieders of Helias was the individual district tournaent champion. The freshman carded a one-over 72 to win by two strokes.
"He's a special, special player," Higgins said. "He never gets rattled. His demeanor on the golf course is like a senior, not a freshman."
Schnieders is already receiving NCAA Division I offers. After watching Schnieders play when being paired with No. 1 golfers from other teams throughout the season, Higgins can see why.
"Their player may be going to Oklahoma or Mizzou and he's playing right with them or beating them," he said. "I can't imagine how good he's going to be when he's a senior, he will likely have all the Helias records when he's done here."
Davis Linhardt, a sophomore who finished second in the Central Missouri Activities Conference Tournament this season. was fifth in the district with a five-over par 76.
This is Linhardt's first season of high school golf after missing last year when the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
"That was big for him to miss because it was a chance to work through aome of the nerves you have when it comes to high school golf," Higgins said. "He is a hard worker, as hard as anybody on our team."
Burke Bauer, a freshman, tied for 10th in districts to advance to state.
"He doesn't hit it as far as the other kids, but he's so strong around the greens," Higgins said. "He has done great, we've counted his scores for the last month."
Drew Higgins, a senior, finished in a six-way tie for 15th with an 81 to claim Helias' final qualifying spot. He birdied his final hole at the district tournament to qualify.
"He's hitting the ball well," Jay Higgins said. "He's been practicing well and I think were going to see Drew's best at state."
Higgins doesn't like the new qualifying rule, which doesn't allow all five golfers on a district title team to advance to state.
"I don't know quite what they were thinking when they changed the rule," he said. "We play and practice together as a team. For them to turn it into an individual deal doesn't make any sense to me."
Graham Johnson, Helias' fifth golfer, missed advancing by one stroke.
"He can beat any of our kids on any given day and for him not to be able to go isn't fair," Higgins said.
Higgins said Rockhurst and Chaminade were the two best teams Helias competed against this season. And while Chaminade advanced, Rockhurst didn't. The Hawklets won their district title by eight strokes, but only had three individuals in the top 18.
"They have three very good golfers and two others who are going to play college golf somewhere and they don't qualify," Higgins said. "That's not right."
Staley, the runner-up in that district, had four individuals advance and can post a team score.
Two other teams in Helias' district - runner-up Joplin and third-place Lee's Summit West - advanced enough golfers to contend for the state title.
Higgins, who believes Chaminade is the clear favorite in the two-day tournament, is aiming for a team score of 600 for the Crusaders.
"If we can do that, that will give us a chance to be there at the end," he said.
The Crusaders have all played multiple times at Sedalia Country Club, including postng a 302 team score in the Sedalia Invitational this season. That experience can only help.
"All our kids know the course, the rough is a lot like here at Jefferson City Country Club," Higgins said. "I don't think a lot of teams have played or practiced in the rough like we'll see."