Eagles’ Arnold goes low to secure sectional championship, state tournament berth

PETERSBURG, Ill. — Last week’s regional golf championship didn’t allow Blake Arnold to escape doing any homework.

“I bet I had three or four hours of work that night,” the Liberty junior said.

So would winning a sectional championship bring any reprieve?

“It’s not quite as bad,” Arnold said of the amount of homework he had to tackle Monday night after shooting a 2-under 70 to win the Class 1A PORTA Sectional championship at Shambolee Golf Course. “It’s more manageable.”

Maybe it takes winning a state championship to open an avenue to celebrate.

Arnold seems to have what it takes to pull it off. Adding clutch putting to quality ball-striking, Arnold posted the lowest score of any of the four sectional champions and will head to Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington this weekend full of confidence.

“I approach things the same way I did today,” Arnold said. “I’ve played there plenty of times, especially over the summer. I played in a couple of tournaments there. I just have to stay within myself and roll some putts in. I think it’ll be fun.”

Putts were essential to this victory. Arnold missed the green in regulation on the first four holes, but he got up-and-down to save par each time. After a bogey on No. 6, he rebounded with birdies on the par-4 seventh and par-4 ninth.

He jumpstarted his back nine with a birdie on the par-5 10th.

“After No. 10, I kind of just took a big deep breath and relaxed there,” Arnold said.

A birdie on the par-5 13th got him to 3-under, and the only time he missed a green and didn’t get up-and-down to save par was on the par-3 18th, as a bogey kept him from breaking 70. The score didn’t matter as much as earning the trip to the state tournament.

“I think it’s going to be fun because you’re playing with the best players in Class 1A,” Arnold said. “Everybody made it as far as they can. Now, this is your last chance. This is the last tournament of the season.”

Arnold will be joined in the state tourney field by Illini West junior Nolan Deitrich, who shot a 78, and Pittsfield junior Jameson Noble, who carded an 83.