Torturous four-hole stretch keeps QND boys golf team from making cut at Class 2A state tourney

NORMAL, Ill. — Nine holes into the Class 2A state tournament, the Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team found itself in the thick of the chase.

The Raiders’ top four golfers each posted a 4-over 39 playing holes 10-18, leaving them in fifth place in the 12-team field and in good position to make the cut and play Saturday’s final 18 holes at the Weibring Golf Club.

A treacherous four-hole stretch spoiled that.

QND shot a combined 17-over on holes 1-4 and couldn’t fully recover despite a strong closing kick, finishing 11th with a 327 team score. The Raiders missed the cut by five strokes.

“It just kind of snowballed,” QND coach Brian Hendrian said. “And then it was like, ‘Oh, we don’t have a lot of time left.’ They played well after that, but it was just too big of an implosion on those four holes that cooked our goose.”

QND freshman Beau Eftink and junior Konnor Craven played the final five holes in a combined 3-over. They will be joined by senior Zane Douglas as the three qualified to play as individuals Saturday.

Eftink and Craven both shot 9-over 80, while Douglas posted an 11-over 82. Three other seniors — Cole Willer (85), Colin Larson (86) and Ross Thompson (88) — played their final high school round.

“They played well, so it’s frustrating for them,” Hendrian said. “It got away from them in the middle of the round. Golf can be very unfair at times.”