FARMINGTON — St. Vincent entered the Class 2 boys golf state championship believing it had a chance to bring home a state title.
The Indians came close.
Behind another medal-winning performance from senior Samuel Koishor and strong team play throughout the lineup, St. Vincent finished second at the Class 2 state tournament May 18-19 at Bogey Creek Golf Club in Farmington, marking the program’s third consecutive state runner-up finish and fourth straight trip to the podium.
Palmyra claimed the team title with a 2-day score of 642 (+66), while St. Vincent finished second at 650 (+74). Monroe City placed third at 656 (+80), followed by El Dorado Springs at 658 (+82) and East Buchanan at 664 (+88). Jefferson (Festus), Dixon, Willow Springs and Butler-Appleton City rounded out the 9-team field.
“We definitely thought that we could keep up the next day and maybe get a little closer,” St. Vincent coach Eric Clements said. “The kids played so hard. They played much better the second day, so much better. I’ve got to tip my hat to Palmyra. They had one kid shoot 3-under, Skeeter [Kroeger], and that was enough to keep them in the lead over us.”
Koishor paced the Indians individually, finishing 18th overall with rounds of 77 (+5) and 79 (+7) for a 2-day total of 156 (+12), earning all-state medalist honors for the second straight season. Quinton Doza tied for 30th at 162 (+18) after rounds of 81 (+9) and 81 (+9), while Colden Prost tied for 33rd at 162 (+18) with rounds of 82 (+10) and 80 (+8). Brecken Reiss placed 60th at 170 (+26) after shooting 88 (+16) and 82 (+10), and Adam Brickhaus finished 75th at 178 (+34) with rounds of 91 (+19) and 87 (+15).
Saxony Lutheran junior Bryce Gaebler also competed at state, tying for 24th place after rounds of 78 (+6) and 82 (+10) for a 160 (+16) total.
Individually, Eric Greifzu of Duchesne captured the state championship at even-par 144 after rounds of 71 (-1) and 73 (+1). Liberty (Mountain View) junior Blayne Altermatt and Macon senior Hagan Ritter tied for second at 145 (+1), followed by Carrollton’s Casson Kipping at 146 (+2) and Palmyra senior Skeeter Kroeger in fifth at 148 (+4). Drake Weaver of Trenton placed sixth at 149 (+5), while Logan Jessen of East Buchanan and Rex Mauzy of Elsberry tied for seventh at 150 (+6). Easton Rust of Ash Grove and Brady Altermatt of Liberty (Mountain View) tied for ninth at 151 (+7). Aiden Schmidt of Stockton placed 11th at 152 (+8), Ty Brandt of Fatima finished 12th at 153 (+9), and Trenton Harbison of West County, Kolten Woodside of East Buchanan and Parker Heitz of El Dorado Springs tied for 13th at 154 (+10).
Clements said St. Vincent battled difficult conditions that included wind, thick rough and a weather delay during the opening round but still put itself in contention entering the final day.
“The rough was super thick,” Clements said. “You could hit a nice ball, barely go off the fairway and it would be hard to find. We also had some serious wind gusts the whole day. With the kids doing a little bit worse than their normal score, I wasn’t upset about it because it was tough. We finished the first day in second place and were only 3 strokes out of first.”
The Indians remained within striking distance late in the second round before making an aggressive push at the title.
“We had an opportunity,” Clements said. “We were about 5 strokes back with mostly 1 hole left. We had 2 kids go for it trying to pick up strokes because we knew we had to do something to try to get first. One kid hit it in the water trying to get there, but we were proud of him for going for it. That’s what these kids did — they wanted to win as a team.”
Koishor’s finish capped an outstanding high school career. The senior helped lead St. Vincent to state appearances in each of the last 4 seasons, highlighted by a sixth-place finish his freshman year followed by 3 consecutive state runner-up trophies.
“I’ve got to hand it to him,” Clements said. “He got second place overall last year, and that’s such a hard thing to do — show up 2 days in a row and be dialed in. He’s had such a great high school career, and I’m just so proud of him and how his leadership rubbed off on these kids.”
Clements said the emotion shown by teammates following the tournament reflected Koishor’s impact on the program.
“We finished the round and had 4 kids holding back tears, hugging Sam because he’s leaving us,” Clements said. “That’s just the type of team we are. He meant a lot to it and taught our kids a lot about competing and working hard.”
Despite losing Koishor, St. Vincent returns a young core and could move up to Class 3 next season after winning a fourth straight district title and again finishing second at state.
The Indians also returned home to a community celebration in Perryville, complete with fire trucks, police escorts and a parade around the square.
“Perryville is such an amazing town,” Clements said. “The support from our school and community was priceless. Those are memories those kids will have forever.”
