Wheeler shoots for title, team hopes for good showing

sports@standard-democrat.com

As a team, Sikeston will enter the Class 3 state golf tournament with simple aspirations of playing the best they can.

The best, for one of its members, will be a state championship.

Four-time state qualifier Gabe Wheeler leads the team of Blake Below, Clark Atchison and Luke Blanton as he tries to claim the only tournament victory that's eluded him during his high school career.

"That's the only thing missing," Wheeler said about a possible state title. "It's already been great enough and if I don't win I'm not going to be too upset, but this is the one I'm missing. I've won everything else and this is the one I'm striving to win the most. This is my last chance."

The Class 3 state tournament is a two-day event that starts Monday and will be held at Silo Ridge Golf Course in Bolivar. Sikeston is one of eight teams that qualified after sectionals and Wheeler is one of 95 individual players looking to nab the top spot.

Sikeston's Gabe Wheeler putts on the 8th green Tuesday during a Class 3 Sectional at Fox Haven Country Club in Sikeston. (Chris Pobst photo)

"I don't think we're leaving Sikeston looking to bring home a state championship," Sikeston golf coach Brent Taylor said. "We're leaving Sikeston looking to bring home an individual state championship and put up a really good showing.

"Ultimately, (Gabe) is looking to be a state champion," Taylor added. "He's done everything, he's prepared himself."

The senior, who has already signed his letter of intent to play golf for Murray State, has climbed the leaderboard each year he's attended the state tournament. He finished last season with third after a 12th place finish his sophomore year. He tied for 53rd as a freshman.

"It gets better and better each year," said Wheeler, who won the Festus, Jackson and Notre Dame Invitationals this season. "First place would be great but I'm going to be a realest and say top-5 would be a good goal. The ultimate goal would to be the whole thing."

During last year's state tournament, Wheeler shot a 74 the first day and a 75 the second on the par-71 course for a combined 149 at Fremont Hills Country Club in Fremont Hills. He fell four strokes behind the two leaders; Davis Alec Palen from Logan-Rogersville and Brett Windsor from Boonville.

Windsor, who has signed his letter of intent with the University of Central Missouri, returns as last year's co-champion.

"The experience really helps, the competition that will be there I'm aware of all of it," said Wheeler. "I just want to go in and play my best and come out with a state title."

Knowing the competition is one thing. Knowing the course, well, is an advantage.

Wheeler has played and won a tournament at Silo Ridge before. He's played 11 competitive rounds on the 6,536-yard, par-72 course. He won the 2013 Trusted Choice Big I Missouri qualifying tournament which gave him the opportunity to play in the national tournament at the Country Club of North Caroline in Pinhurst, NC.

"It's a pretty open golf course that plays to my abilities," Wheeler said. "It's not long but it takes an accurate shot off the tee. Short game really comes into play and I feel that's a strength of mine. Playing it one time and winning on that course, I'm feeling pretty good about it."

Wheeler has used his knowledge of the course to help his teammates with their preparation. Below, a senior, was another state qualifier for Sikeston last season who finished 81st. Fellow senior, Atchison and sophomore Blanton helped the team qualify for the state tournament after coming in second at the Class 3 sectional tournament Tuesday at Fox Haven Country Club in Sikeston, their home course.

"The first thing is just go shoot our best," Taylor said. "They set a goal of around 335 and that's something that's reachable. If they do that they'll make a decent showing and have a good time."

Though making it to state as a team was a goal of theirs at the beginning of the year, the golfers aren't going into the state championship with illusions of winning a team title. They know Wheeler will be in the running for an individual championship but the competition surrounding the team championship is stout.

"We know there are outstanding teams up there," Below said. "We don't know if we can compete with them. But we know we have a good shot at possibly getting a top-five if we play to our expectations as a team."

Pembroke Hill returns to defend its state title as well as state regulars MICDS, Hannibal and St. Francis Borgia clogging up the field. Warrensburg, Sullivan and Farmington are the remaining teams in the field.

"When you look at who you're playing against they're very tough to compete against," Taylor said. "The fact that we're taking a team is an accomplishment in its own. If we come back with a middle of the road finish, we can't ask for any more than that."

Pembroke Hill won last year's tournament posting team scores of 317 and 320 for a combined 637. Next up was Logan-Rogersville and MICDS tying with a 640.

"A lot of those teams are really good with four studs," Blanton said. "Gabe is really good and I know Clark, Blake and myself can be good, but we're not quite the four of that magnitude. We're definitely shooting to post a good team score and probably beat a couple of teams. Maybe a four or five finish. Just play the best we can. That's the goal."

Sikeston set 335 as a combined score to strive for. They recently shot a 330 to place second at sectionals which was its lowest score of the season.

"It was the right timing," said Atchison about its sectional round. "We finally all had a day were we achieved our potential. There was shots we could have saved and we could have improved but we're happy with it."

After Wheeler's one-over 72 at sectionals, Below was second with an 81. He shot 10-over on the front-nine but stayed at par after the turn to help Sikeston to its one-stroke win over Lutheran South.

"Recently its been going well, which is great because its at the end of the year," Below said. "At the beginning of the year Gabe was playing outstanding and everyone else wasn't doing so well. Now we're coming together as a team and playing well."

Atchison carded an 83 during sectionals and makes his first appearance at the state tournament.

"My personal goal was to make it through sectionals and I wanted the team to get to state," said Atchison. "What we've accomplished so far is greater than what we could have asked for."

Blanton enters the state tournament after shooting a 94 at sectionals and looks to gain valuable experience for his next two years.

"I just want to play the best that I can and cheer on Blake, Clark and Gabe. I know they can do good things," Blanton said. "As for me, I just want to play my best and see what happens."

The last time Sikeston competed as a team in 2012 they finished seventh out of 10 teams.

"We've decided that the best thing we can do is to shoot well and hope for the best," Atchison added. "For myself, Blake and Gabe, this is our last match. We'd like to make the best of it. If we don't win then we'd like to shoot well and have a good time doing it."