Steady play leads Liberty’s Arnold to second-place finish at Quincy Invitational

QUINCY — Blake Arnold has figured out how to eliminate the chaos, keep things simple and avoid the kind of mistakes that can derail a solid round of golf.

Only one player was better at it Saturday.

Springfield’s Peyton Woods shot 1-under on both nines at Westview Golf Course to post a 2-under 69 and earn medalist honors during the 73rd annual Quincy Invitational. Arnold, the Liberty senior, finished second with a 2-over 73.

With the 108-player field going off with a shotgun start, Arnold’s group teed off on the par-4 third hole and he carded a bogey. A birdie on the par-5 fifth hole got the stroke back, and he strung together eight consecutive birdies before sticking his approach shot on the par-4 14th within 3 feet of the cup and rolling in the birdie putt.

A hooked tee shot on the par-4 18th cost him two strokes and a pulled approach shot on the par-4 second hole cost him another, but with fairways soft from overnight rain and winds whipping at times, Arnold considered it a solid round.

“I just went out and played,” he said.

Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin won the team title, posting a 393 team score. The Quincy Invitational counts five individual scores for each team. O’Fallon was second at 396 and Springfield finished third at 397.

Quincy Notre Dame posted a 417 to finish seventh and Quincy High School shot a 428 to finish 11th in the 18-team event.

The Raiders placed two individuals in the top 20 — Colin Larson was 11th with a 77 and Zane Douglas was 15th with a 78. Freshman Issa Geisendorfer led the Blue Devils with an 82 and Gabriel Gold shot an 83. Dean Hibbert led Camp Point Central with an 83.