Fairfield golfers finish second Friday, advance

MORAVIA ? Just advance.

In the postseason, it doesn?t matter how a team does it, just that a team does.

Few area teams have had more recent success turning the idea into reality than the Fairfield boys? golf team, which found a way to move on to the district competition with a second-place finish Friday at the sectional tournament at The Preserve golf course on Rathbun Lake.

?Like we said at the start, we don?t have to win ? just find a way to advance,? Fairfield head coach Mick Flattery said.

The Trojans collectively shot a 312 at the Class 3A eight-team tournament, finishing 10 strokes behind champion Centerville (302) and seven ahead of third-place Mount Pleasant (319). Fairfield and Centerville were the only two teams to advance past The Preserve sectional.

Fairfield junior Matt Carr led the way with a 4-over-par 76 for the day?s third lowest score, and junior Landon Gamrath shot his lowest 18-hole round of the season with a 77. Freshman Nick Higgins fired a 79 and junior Joe Hietpas carded an 80 to also score for Fairfield.

Conditions were wet, cloudy, rainy and 50 degrees to start, but Flattery said one couldn?t tell by the way his golfers played.

?I really felt like our guys would be fine with these conditions, as we?ve qualified in the same conditions but at 40 degrees,? said Flattery. ?To have four shoot in the 30s on the front was really good, and to have three guys shoot in the 70s was terrific.?

Alternate scores for Fairfield included junior Alex Shier?s 81 and an 84 from senior Gabe Hull.

?Not taking an 81 and everybody below 85 showed off our depth again. Collectively, our guys scrambled really well all day long,? the head coach added.

Carr, who won a first-hole playoff vs. Mount Pleasant?s Jordan Phomsouvandara for third place, ?made some great saving pars and knocked in three sweet birdie shots,? said Flattery.

Carr shot a scorching 35 on the front nine to lead the Trojans off to a quick start. Nothing helped motivate Carr?s teammates more than hearing about his score, said Flattery.

?When the guys heard Matt had shot 1-under on the front and that was where they were going ? as they all started somewhere on the back ? the guys were really pumped up knowing that their score would go a long ways to advancing,? said Flattery.

Gamrath, who made two birdie putts on the day, had the Trojans? second lowest score on the front nine with a 37. Hietpas had a 38 on the front nine after shooting a 42 on the back, and Shier had a 39 on the front following a 42 on the back nine. Both Hietpas and Higgins also finished with one birdie apiece.

Individual meet medalist was Centerville?s Alex Moorman, who shot a 4-under-par 68. Runner-up medalist honors went to Moorman?s teammate, Blake Dabney.

The Trojans (41-10) advance to the district tournament in Williamsburg Friday, May 17, against the host Raiders, Centerville and Central DeWitt.

Team Scores

1. Centerville 302, 2. Fairfield 312, 3. Mount Pleasant 319, 4. Oskaloosa 331, 5. Keokuk 344, 6. Fort Madison 359, 7. Albia 363, 8. Chariton 370