Raiders rebound to finish sixth at state golf tourney, Chargers’ Bruns shoots 73

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Saturday turned into a bounce-back day for the Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team and several area golfers.

After tying for eighth and narrowly making the cut following the first round of the Class 1A state tournament at Prairie Vista Golf Course, the Raiders shot the third lowest round of the day, posting a 316 to move to sixth place overall.

Effingham St. Anthony won the team championship with a 622, six strokes ahead of Port Byron Riverdale. QND finished at 651. St. Anthony and third-place Litchfield had the low rounds of the day with 311.

“We turned around and played so much better today,” said QND coach Brian Hendrian, whose team shot a 335 in the first round. “We didn’t quite rocket up the leaderboard as I thought we might with a low score, but they played really well. I’m proud of them.”

Led by sophomore Beau Eftink, who finished as the state runner-up after shooting a 1-under 71, the Raiders’ top four scorers Saturday all improved.

Senior Konnor Craven shaved five strokes and post an 80, while junior Dylan Kies knocked nine strokes off and posted an 82 and freshman Olliver Hendrian improved eight strokes with an 83.

“None of them gave up,” Hendrian said. “They grinded hard and played really well.”

The same holds true for area golfers.

Illini West junior Nick Bruns rebounded from an uncharacteristic 85 in the opening round to shoot a 1-over 73 in the second round and climb into a tie for 23rd. His round included three birdies and an even-par 36 on the back nine.

Pittsfield freshman Isaac Mcglaughlen shot a 78 and finished tied for 25th with a 159, while Illini West senior Colby Robertson shot a 78 and finished tied for 31st at 161. West Hancock sophomore Brayson Smeltser finished at 162 with Brown County senior Rioth Wort at 171 and Payson Seymour senior Aden Frese at 172.