HS boys’ golf: High expectations for Carlinville
The Carlinville High School boys’ golf team celebrates its win at Terry Park. The Cavaliers, led by medalist Carter Zilm, defeated South County and improved to 4-0 on the season. Photo contributed.
North Mac wins at Timber Lakes
By JACKSON WILSON
Enquirer Democrat Reporter
Carlinville entered the 2024 high school boys’ golf season with expectations to contend and make a deep playoff run. If the first meets were any indication, the Cavaliers look to be well on their way.
CHS kicked off the year in Litchfield with one of the hardest matches they expected to have on its schedule. In addition to knocking off the host Purple Panthers, which finished third in the state last year, the Cavaliers also defeated Father McGivney and Southwestern to finish 3-0 on the day. Sophomore Carter Zilm shot a 37, followed by Tate Duckels at 39, another sophomore in Cade Vinyard with 42 and Colin Pope at 44.
Last week, Carlinville moved to 4-0 with a win over South County at Terry Park. Zilm once again led the charge for the Cavaliers and finished with the lowest individual score (36) to become the meet’s medalist. Vinyard channeled his inner Michael Jordan and shot a 37 despite having to battle through sickness. Duckels ended with a 39 and Pope with a 40.
Carlinville’s Colin Pope finished amongst the top ten individual golfers at the Gary Saunders Invitational in Macomb last weekend, earning a medal. The Cavaliers, as a team, placed fifth. Photo contributed.
Over the weekend, the boys traveled to Macomb for the 50th annual Gary Saunders Invitational. Pope shot an 80 to finish in the top 10 and Carlinville placed fifth overall in another tough field of heavyweights. Duckels ended the day with a score of 84, followed by Zilm at 88 and Vinyard at 89.
North Mac wins at Timber Lakes
On Aug. 16, the North Mac boys golf team took first place at Timber Lakes over Staunton, Gillespie and Mt Olive with an overall score of 166. Aiden Hatalla was the medalist, shooting a 37, followed by Camden Earley 41, Nolan Fester 44, Luke Alexander 44, Jonah Bearden 46, Jack Kallenbach 53, Griffin Wiseman 54 and Maddix Stead 59.
The boys also finished in second place at a quad-meet in Edgewood, defeating Auburn and Taylorville. The Panthers shot 177 as a team and ended the day just one stroke behind South County. Fester shot a 41 to claim the individual medal.
North Mac added another runner-up finish at the Rail, with Hatalla shooting a 41.
