Palmyra golfers survive district challenge, ready to atone for missed opportunity at last year’s state meet

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Jonas Janes and the Palmyra boys golf team have unfinished business. 

“Oh, 100 percent,” Janes said.

The Panthers have the chance to make amends for what could have been last season. Palmyra qualified Monday for the Missouri Class 2 state tournament by tying for the top spot with South Shelby at the Class 2 District 2 Tournament at Norwoods Golf Club with a score of 328, just two shots clear of Missouri Military Academy and three ahead of Centralia. The top two finishing teams in each district qualify for state.

“We didn’t play to our potential as a team, but we did just enough to give ourselves a chance,” Panthers coach Brian Rea said.

The Panthers earned the opportunity to make up for the opportunity they missed at the 2024 state tournament. They held an eight-shot lead after the first round of the two-day event, but they combined to shoot the second-highest score in the eight-team field on day two and finished third.

“We have to go take it back this year,” said Janes, who shot a 14-over 86 to finish tied for sixth in that second round after sitting in a deadlock for second with an 80 in the first round.

Junior Abram Getz, who finished 36th in the state last season after posting a score nine shots higher on day two, said the Panthers were not mentally sharp on that second day.

“Everybody just kind of had an off day,” Getz said. “We were in our own heads. We were like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re leading this tournament,’ and we just kind of got in our own heads.”

Janes and Getz will lead the Panthers on a redemption tour at Sedalia Country Club on May 19-20. They were two of eight golfers to break 80 on Monday, posting a 78 and 79, respectively.

“(Getz) played very consistently,” Rea said. “That’s probably the most consistent he’s played all year. I’m really proud of him for that because sometimes he gets down on himself or gets in his own head, but he stayed even keel. I’m proud of him for stepping up and having a great round.”

The Panthers got help shortly after they finished their rounds. Janes watched the live leaderboard intently as Centralia’s Easton Dodge played the final hole of his round, the par-3 No. 4 hole. At the time, Centralia sat in the final state qualifying spot with Palmyra on the outside looking in.

Janes’ jaw dropped when he saw Dodge make a triple bogey on that hole, knocking Centralia out and giving Palmyra renewed life in its quest for a state title. Janes immediately relayed the good news to Getz.

“Jonas told me, ‘Easton just tripled his last hole for us to move on,’ and we kind of went crazy,” Getz said. “I feel horrible for Easton, but it happens.”

Rea would have liked a little more separation and not had to rely on the misfortunes of another player and team, but he will take it.

“I don’t like it to come down to that, but I guess it’s better than the alternative,” Rea said.

Now, Palmyra can take aim at what Getz believed they should have had last year.

“It’s going to be different this year,” Getz said. “We’re not going to crap the bed again.”

Skeeter Kroeger and Anthony White will round out the four Palmyra players making the trip to Sedalia. Kroeger, who finished 10th in the state last season, shot an 85 on Monday to finish in a tie for 29th in the district. White shot an 86.

“We didn’t play terribly, but we just didn’t play to our potential,” Rea said. “We had a couple guys hold it down for us and a couple guys who didn’t play great but did just enough and didn’t totally blow up their score, so it’s a credit to all of them. We have to play a little more consistent.”