STATE CHAMPIONS–After a first place finish at the SIJHSAA regional held at Tamarack golf course last week, the Red Bud Elementary School Royals advanced to the state championship at Kokopelli Golf Course in Marion on Monday. The team shot one over par 214 on a wet, rainy day to capture the championship and remain undefeated for their 40-0 season. Eighth grader Porter Donjon was the state champion after a two hole sudden death playoff against Waterloo Junior High golfer Caden Kite. Donjon shot two under par 69 for the day. Also earning all state honors were Draeden Duncan, third place with 71 and Blake Marcheski, seventh place with 74. Pictured kneeling from left: Porter Donjon and Parker Eckart. In back: Coach Brock Quigley, Draedan Duncan, Blake Marcheski and Coach Chad Quigley.
On Monday, the regional champion Royals headed down to compete as one of 10 teams in the SIJHSAA state tournament at Kokopelli Golf Course in Marion. While a new venue this year, the state tournament was not a new experience for eighth graders Blake Marcheski and Draedan Duncan who took fourth in 2024.
“Our team game plan going into the day was to minimize any damaging or poor decisions and to simply stay on or right at our average score as a team and as individuals for the season. We figured that if we could accomplish that we would give ourselves a real good shot at the end of the 18 holes,” said Coach Brock Quigley.
For more on the Royals, please see this week’s print edition.