Washington's de Perrot wins sectional title, but the Demons finish third

Washington?s Dillon de Perrot didn?t know exactly how to feel following Thursday?s Class 3A sectional tournament at Saddleback Ridge Golf Course in Solon.

The senior had just won the individual sectional title for the second straight year, but the Demons failed to advance as a team.

?It was kind of bittersweet because I knew I won, but the team not going made me feel [bad],? de Perrot said.

De Perrot fired a 2-over-par 74 to win the individual sectional title by one shot over Central DeWitt?s Brice Bowen and earn a spot in Friday?s district tournament in Williamsburg. He said his tee shots were accurate during Thursday?s round.

?I played pretty well,? de Perrot said. ?My tee shots were what was helping me. I think I hit almost every fairway. I struggled with my short game a little at the beginning of the round, but it came around. Getting used to those greens was hard, but at the end I did.?

De Perrot won his second sectional championship. He also won the individual title last year at the Washington Golf and Country Club.

?He plays well at the end of the season, and that?s when it?s most important,? Washington head coach Mark Berhow said of de Perrot. ?That?s a good quality for him to have. I think he has an excellent chance of advancing.?

Unfortunately, de Perrot?s teammates won?t be playing with him on Friday. Junior Ryan Waite added a 9-over-par 81 for the Demons, and senior Jake Dickinson bounced back from the 99 he shot at the conference tournament with an 83. Senior Connor Davey carded an 86 to round out the scoring. Freshman Derek Anding shot an 87, and sophomore Blake Weidman had a 90.

Washington shot a 324 and finished third at the eight-team sectional. Williamsburg won the sectional championship with a 315, and Central DeWitt was second with a 318. Both teams advanced to next Friday?s district tournament in Williamsburg.

?We weren?t that far away from what we?d normally been shooting,? Berhow said. ?But this was an easier course than we?d been playing because there very few hazards anywhere. So we knew we had to shoot better, and we set a goal for under 320. We knew that 320 wasn?t going to qualify [for districts] this year.?

The Demons were on pace to meet that goal after the tournament?s first nine holes. Washington shot a 160 on the front nine at Saddleback Ridge and was in second place, two strokes ahead of Central DeWitt.

?After the first round we were a couple of strokes ahead [of Central DeWitt for the second and final qualifying spot], but in the second round we weren?t able to hang on,? Berhow said. ?It was deflating, but it was good for the team to know that it did have one member qualify and advance. That was a bright spot for us.?