Vandalia qualifies for sectional golf tournament

The Vandals achieved another of their season goals on Tuesday by advancing the sectional tournament as a team.

Led by regional champion Blake Swofford, who had five birdies, the Vandals shot a 346 to place third and advance to next Monday’s Carterville Sectional.

Swofford shot a 71 (-1) and won the tournament on the third playoff hole against Marquette Catholic’s Brian Gibbon. Both shot par on the first two holes, but Swofford secured a birdie on No. 3 to secure the victory.

Senior Zach Jackson shot an 87, his lowest 18-hole score of the season, and sophomores Zach Schaal and Jake Shulman each shot 94 to round out Vandalia’s team scoring.

Sophomore Jake Bowen (95) and senior Leyton Godoyo (102) also played for the Vandals.

Senior RaeChelle Leiken played in her regional on Wednesday, and results of her round will posted at www.leaderunion.com on Thursday morning.

Tuesday, Oct. 2
at Mt. Olive
•Swofford, 71 (-1)
•Jackson, 87 (+15)
•Shulman, 94 (+22)
•Schaal, 94 (+22)
•Bowen, 95
•Godoyo, 102
Team scores
•Marquette, 327
•Carlyle, 331
•Vandalia, 346
•Mater Dei, 356

***

Last Thursday, the Vandals placed second in their final regular-season golf tournament.

Playing at Shoal Creek Golf Course in Pana, Swofford tied for first individually to lead Vandalia (9-15), which shot a 182 as a team to edge Pana by a point.

He birdied hole No. 3, and tied with Lincolnwood’s Devin Jenkins. The Lancers’ 163 team score won the tournament.

Senior Radley Wehrle did not score for the team, but his 57 was his lowest round of the season by one stroke.

Thursday, Sept. 27
at Pana
•Swofford, 37 (+1)
•Jackson, 43 (+7)
•Bowen, 51 (+15)
•Godoyo, 51 (+15)
•Schaal, 52
•Shulman, 52
•Wehrle, 57
Team scores
•Lincolnwood, 163
•Vandalia, 182
•Pana, 183