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Wheeler finishes third at state golf tournament
FREMONT HILLS -- The regular season for Sikeston golfer Gabe Wheeler wasn't what he wanted it to be but the way he finished made up for any disappointments the junior went through.
Wheeler finished in third place following the final round of the Class 3 state golf tournament Tuesday at Fremont Hills Country Club in Fremont Hills.
"It's been kind of a tough year," Wheeler said. "I knew I had one more shot to prove myself and to prove I was one of the better golfers around. I'm definitely happy with third."
Wheeler shot a combined 149 after two days of competition. He shot a 74 the first day and a 75 during the final round on the par 71 course.
During the regular season, Wheeler never found a groove with his short-game. That changed at the short, tight golf course where accuracy off the tee is key.
"My short-game started coming around," said Wheeler. "I've had putting problems all season and those sured up over the last two days. I was striking the ball better and it really makes a difference when your putter is hot. The fact that it came around on this stage is big."
Wheeler, who is a three-time state qualifier, has improved on his final score each year. He finished in 53rd place as a freshman and made the all-state team his sophomore year with a 153.
"He's the true meaning of a Bulldog," Sikeston golf coach Brent Taylor said about Wheeler. "He bows his neck and things aren't over until it's over for him. He made some shots and made putts when he needed to."
Logan-Rogersville's Davis Alec Palan and Brett Windsor from Boonville each tied for first after both shooting 145.
Fremont Hills posed its biggest problem around the holes. According to Wheeler, reading the greens were next to impossible.
"It was a really tough course," said Wheeler. "It's probably the toughest I've played in my three years at state. It's really short, but tight. The greens were very hard to read so putting well came in handy."
Wheeler's plan coming into the final day was to stay consistent. He wanted to stay around his first day score of 74 and wait for opportunities to jump on the competition ahead of him, but it never presented itself.
"I executed many of my shots well and consistency really helped me this weekend," Wheeler said. "I just wanted to stay consistent and stay close to the competition ahead of me."
"It was a great ending to my year," Wheeler said. "Obviously winning would have been best but this is perfect. It feels really good to come in and finish like this. Hopefully it carries over into next year and I can start like I finished."
Wheeler's teammate, Blake Below, finished with a final score of 182 for 81st. Below shot a 93 the first day and an 89 the second during the first state trip of his career.
"Blake hasn't been playing the game very long so to be a state qualifier after two years is an accomplishment in itself," Taylor said. "All of this is experience for him. The fact that he qualified was the main goal and to learn from it."
Dexter's Ethan Stevens tied for 23rd after shooting a combined 164. Stevens shot an 81 the first day and 83 Tuesday.
In Class 2 at Silo Ridge Golf Club and Country Club in Bolivar, Kelly's Derrick Garner shot a combined 185 to tie for 71st. Garner shot a 92 the first day and a 93 the final round.