Putting issues cost Arnold chance to become first Liberty golfer to medal at state

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Putting success is attributed as much to rhythm as it is speed and accurate lines.

That rhythm escaped Blake Arnold on Saturday.

“Nope, never found it,” said Arnold, the Liberty junior golfer following his 6-over 78 in the second round of the Class 1A state tournament at Prairie Vista Golf Course. “I could not make a putt to save my life. Again.”

It cost Arnold the chance to be the first state medalist in Liberty history. His opening-round 75 left him tied for 10th in the 112-player field, but opening the second round with back-to-back bogeys set the stage for a challenging day that dropped him into a tie for 16th at 153.

Rockridge’s Drew Hall won the individual championship with an even-par 144.

“I’m frustrated I didn’t finish better,” Arnold said. “I know I could have. I didn’t finish it off.”

Still, he is the Eagles’ highest individual finisher ever at the state tournament. And he’ll have another shot next season to medal, and he knows what will make a difference.

“I think I just need to putt better,” Arnold said.

Meanwhile, at the Class 3A tournament at the Den at Fox Creek Golf Course, Quincy High School sophomore Gabriel Gold was solid with the flatstick, playing his final nine holes in even par to shoot a 4-over 76 and finish tied for 41st with a 154 total.

“He played fantastic,” QHS coach Randy Mettemeyer said. “He hit a lot of great shots. What was really fun about it is he was playing his game.”

Gold was paired with three Chicagoland area golfers who were all long off the tee, but he didn’t allow it to become a driving contest.

“He just played his own game and put it on the green,” Mettemeyer said. “They were outdriving him by 50 to 100 yards, and he’d put it on the green and two-putt for par and move on to the next hole. He parred them to death.”