Blue Devils’ Gold fights into playoff, narrowly misses chance to make state tourney field

PEKIN, Ill. — A tough three-hole stretch on his closing nine holes Monday put Quincy High School senior golfer Gabriel Gold in a precarious position.

He was one of eight golfers who tied for 14th in Monday’s Class 3A Pekin Sectional at Lick Creek Golf Course, and only one was advancing to the state tournament as an individual.

It turned out to be Chatham Glenwood junior Drew Downen who won the playoff and advanced to this weekend’s state tournament at The Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington. Gold, a senior, shot a 79 and missed advancing to the state tourney for the second time in his career by the narrowest of margins.

QHS freshman Ty Novosel shot an 80 and did not advance.

Gold opened the sectional with a 1-over 37 on Lick Creek’s back nine. He righted himself after taking double bogey on the par-4 first hole by making back-to-back pars, but three straight bogeys followed, leaving him with a 6-over 42 on front nine.

Novosel shot a 40 on each side and had one birdie on his scorecard.

At the Class 2A Peoria Sectional, the Macomb boys posted a 333 team score and finished 11th at Kellogg Golf Course. Nicholas Parkins led the Bombers with a 79, while Justice Keene shot an 82, Tobias Cale posted an 85 and Brady Scalf carded an 87.