After missing state tournament by one stroke for past two seasons, South Shelby golfers win district title

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The South Shelby boys golf team has been agonizingly close to qualifying for the Missouri state tournament the last two seasons, missing out by one stroke each time.

The golf gods were on the Cardinals’ side on Monday. South Shelby posted a team score of 328 at Monday’s Class 2 District 2 tournament at Norwoods Golf Club and won a tiebreaker with Palmyra to secure a district title. The Cardinals and Panthers finished two shots ahead of Missouri Military Academy and Centralia to earn the two available berths to the state tournament at Sedalia Country Club on May 19-20.

Noah Wilt, Carson Gough, Eli Hatcher, and Titus Moore all shot 10-over 82s to finish tied for 13th on Monday, which would have been good enough to all make the cut as individuals.

“I mean, I planned it that way,” Wilt joked. “I missed that last putt on purpose so I could shoot 82.”

Wilt, now a senior, had his share of heartbreak as a sophomore and a junior. He too missed the state qualifying cut by one stroke each season.

“It was awful,” Wilt said.

Wilt feels much different this time around.

“It feels awesome, especially making it both as an individual and as a team,” Wilt said.

The South Shelby boys golf program has qualified for state one other time in its history — in 2022, when it finished fourth. Wilt said that squad inspired him to join the Cardinals golf team as a sophomore.

“Seeing that pep rally and how excited everybody was for it, that’s what got me going,” Wilt said.

The trip to state next week will be a full circle moment for Wilt.

“It’s weird to think about,” Wilt said. “It’s crazy. I never thought I’d be as good as them. Maybe I’m not, but I’m close, at least. It’s pretty cool.”

Even though Sedalia Country Club is about 2½ hours from Shelbina, the Cardinals played a practice round at the course on March 9 thanks to Cardinals coach Kevin Mitchell’s connections there.

“I have family who works at the course, and they were like, ‘Yeah, we’ll get you on the course early,’ so we went down, and it was a really cool trip,” Mitchell said.

The course features 53 bunkers and 14 holes on which water can come into play.

“These guys play 27, 36 holes, whatever they can play every single day,” Mitchell said. “These guys can play any course, but it’s more about, ‘Here’s what’s out there. Here’s why you’re working. Here’s what you’re battling.’”

Moore believes the Cardinals’ acclimation with the course will serve them well.

“It got us to see the course and get a feel of what clubs to hit, what clubs not to hit, how fast the greens are, how it compares to a place like Norwoods,” Moore said.

That early March excursion may have been a harbinger of things to come, as well.

“Hopefully it was foreshadowing that we have that advantage of going down there early and seeing the course,” Gough said. “Hopefully it helps us.”

Regardless of their finish, the Cardinals will soak up every moment of their state tournament voyage.

“I hope we don’t stay up too late because we’re a rowdy bunch, but it should be good,” Moore said. “We’ve seen the course. It’s a shorter course. We should be fine.”

Colt Schmitz posted an 84, good enough to send five Cardinals to Sedalia.

“It’s going to be exciting,” Mitchell said. “It means a lot to have those close misses then finally get over that hump. Thank the Lord we broke through, and we get to enjoy a fun trip and hopefully come back with a state trophy.”