Pair of Raiders, Hoey advance

Boys’ golf sectionals were held statewide Wednesday to determine the field for district meets Monday.

Three individuals, outside the BGM sectional, punched their ticket to the state qualifying competition.

Belle Plaine Sectional

BELLE PLAINE — In Class 1A, Belle Plaine hosted a sectional at Belle Plaine Country Club.

The Plainsmen’s Cooper Hoey was the top individual finisher not on a qualifying team.

“Cooper played very well today on his home course,” Belle Plaine coach Andy Dahlquist said. “He has been putting in a lot of extra work and time with his teammates to bring his score down.

“I’m really proud of how he stayed tough and finished the round under building pressure.”

For some of his round, Hoey was right outside the cut of qualifying, but a strong finish propelled him into a qualifying spot.

Hoey finished 10th with an 86 and will compete Monday at the Newman district.

“Districts will be a great experience for a younger player,” Dahlquist said.

As a team, the Plainsmen shot 427 to finish sixth.

Marion Sectional

MARION — The team race was tight in the Class 3A sectional at Gardner Golf Course.

Three strokes separated second to fourth, and Williamsburg missed advancing to districts as a team by one stroke.

The Raiders shot 316, Decorah was third with 315.

“We knew we had to put up a great round to have a chance,” Williamsburg coach Brad Schaefer said. “With three teams ranked above us, these boys really battled and came up just one stroke shy of advancing.

“I am very proud of the way we competed and fought until the very end.”

The Raiders are, however, advancing two individuals.

Robbie Allison and Boston Altenhofen shot 77s to finish seventh and eighth, taking the top two individual spots not on a qualifying team.

Altenhofen’s 77 was a season best. Before Wednesday his lowest score was 82.

“Boston has been steady all year and really has improved so much these past few weeks,” said Schaefer. “His goal was to break 80 in a meet, and to do that on the biggest stage is a huge credit to his character and work ethic.”

Altenhofen and Allison will compete Monday in the West Delaware district.

“We are so happy for Robbie and Boston moving on,” Schaefer said. “So proud of these two men and look forward to Monday’s state qualifying meet.”