Eftink leads charge as QND girls golf team captures program’s first sectional championship

LINCOLN, Ill. — The Illinois High School Association’s decision to use the iWanamaker scoring app for postseason golf events took some of the suspense away as the Quincy Notre Dame girls chased a sectional title Monday.

However, it did little to diminish the Raiders’ joy.

QND posted a 360 team score in the Class 1A Lincoln Sectional at the Lincoln Elks Golf Club, distancing itself from the field by 13 strokes and capturing the first sectional championship in program history.

“Everyone was really excited,” Raiders senior Blair Eftink said. “We use the app so we could kind of see how we were doing throughout the whole match, but it was exciting finally getting the trophy.”

Mahomet-Seymour finished second at 373 and Effingham was third at 376. The top three teams advance to the Class 1A state tournament beginning Friday at Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur. This marks back-to-back state appearances for the Raiders and the eighth state appearance in the last 20 years.

“It feels really good,” Eftink said. “It’s really exciting to be able to experience this again with my team.”

Eftink finished tied for sixth individually, shooting an 85. Her 41 on the front nine included a birdie on the par-3 eighth hole.

“I hit my driver well today, and there were a lot of holes that weren’t extremely long so I felt like that helped me a lot,” she said.

It enabled her to stay on the leaderboard throughout the round.

“After you get through the first few holes and kind of relax, it’s cool to be able see where you are compared to everyone you’re playing against,” Eftink said.

QND senior Hana Knuffman finished eighth with an 86, using a 1-over start through the first five holes to boost her round. Raiders freshman Belle Boudreau shot a 93 to tie for 17th, while senior Emma Eyler tied for 26th with a 96.

Meanwhile, at the Class 1A Kewanee Sectional at Baker Park Golf Course, the Macomb girls finished seventh with a 396 total. Trinity Christensen led the Bombers with a 94.