Keota, New London go 1-2 at 1A golf sectional

NEW LONDON — A boatload of Union area small school golfers are now one good round away from the state tournament after a sectional tournament that saw two teams and two individuals advance on.

Keota and New London scooped up two qualifying spots for districts. The Eagles won the meet with a 356, and the Tigers took second, at 365.

Because New London advanced as a host, the third-place team also advanced. Wapello grabbed that spot with a 383, narrowly edging out fourth-place Winfield-Mount Union, which shot 392.

Columbus Community finished fifth at the sectional, shooting 448. Holy Trinity shot 512, for last.

Keota’s Sawyer Stout was the top golfer in the tournament, shooting an 84 to lead the Eagles to victory. Keota had four of the Top-5 scores on the day, as Caden Sprouse shot a 90, and both Colten Clarahan and Cole Kindred ended at 91.

All Keota players finished in double digits. Billie Kindred finished at 97 for the Eagles. Evan Vittetoe shot a 99.

New London’s Weston Miller was right on Stout’s tail in the individual standings. Miller shot an 85 on the day for second place overall.

Mason Shelley was New London’s second-best scorer, shooting 91. Ethan Streeter finished at 92. Wyatt Miller shot 97. Coen Fitz and Dawson Goetz each shot 113.

Winfield-Mount Union wasn’t shut out of the fun. Carter Loyd and Jake Edwards both shot 93, the Top-2 marks among non-qualifiers. That earned the pair each an individual ticket to districts.

Andrew Brown shot a 96 for WMU. Nick Crow and Griffin Humphreys each scored 110, and Isaac Schurr finished at 119.

Columbus couldn’t quite sneak a player into double-digits. Robert Coil was the top Wildcat at 103. Cole Storm shot 104. Grant Watson ended at 112. Ryan Coil shot 129, and Mason Heck ended at 165.

Keota, New London and the WMU pair of qualifiers will compete at the district tournament in Monday at Pleasant Valley Golf Course, south of Iowa City.