Redbirds go low in strong showing at Bair Tourney

O’Fallon, Massac County, Edwardsville head field at Oak Brook

Greg Shashack, gshashack@thetelegraph.com

 Published 11:25 am CDT, Friday, September 28, 2018

Photo:

Matthew Kamp / Hearst Illinois

Alton’s Mariah Bolling watches her tee shot from the first hole Thursday at the Gary Bair Tournament at Oak Brook Golf Course in Edwardsville.

Four prep girls golf teams finished ahead of the Alton Redbirds on Thursday at the Gary Bair Tournament. But perhaps none of those were more pleased than the Redbirds.

“This couldn’t have been a better day,” Alton coach Carey Cappel said.

The Redbirds had four golfers break 100 to shoot 379 at Oak Brook Golf Course in Edwardsville. O’Fallon was the Bair Tourney champion at 305, with Massac County at 317, Edwardsville at 325 and Belleville East at 356.

Alton tied O’Fallon’s junior varsity lineup for fifth at 379, with Edwardsville JV (380), Columbia (381), Collinsville (382), Freeburg (396), Nashville (405), Granite City (428), Triad (437) and Belleville Althoff (460) completing the field in a tourney that honors Tigers coach Gary Bair, who died at age 60 on Christmas Day 2006 two years after guiding Edwardsville girls to a state championship.

O’Fallon’s Brianna McMinn matched par at 71 to win the tourney title. Edwardsville freshman Riley Lewis was runner-up, three shots back at 74. The Tigers also scored an 81 from both Grace Daech and Jessica Benson and an 89 from Sydney Sahuri.

Alton was led by Jenna Fleming’s 88, while teammates Riley Kenney shot 95, Natalie Messinger shot 98 and Josie Gietz shot 98.

“It was an excellent day with four scores under 100,” Cappel said. “It is a good way to end the regular season and move on to the regional. …. This tournament is great competition, but most of it is going to be confidence. Most of the girls shot their season low tonight — career low — but they’re talking about how they can improve. They know what they need to work on. We’re excited to see what we can do Wednesday.”

While the rest of the Southwestern Conference schools go to Arlington Greens in Granite City for the Collinsville Class 2A Regional, the Redbirds are sent to Champaign for the Centennial Regional at the University of Illinois Orange Course in Savoy.

Carrollton 212, Carlinville 224 – Libby Meuth earned medalist honors with a 47 to lead the Hawks to a dual victory over the Cavaliers at Carlinville Country Club. Carrollton’s Alexis Carroll was one shot back of her teammate with a 48. Carlinville, which had five players score 58 or lower, was led by Elsa Mefford’s 53 and Cara Emery’s 56.