After completing their rounds on Friday at Arthur Hills Golf Course, the Bulldogs stood around ticking off the things they needed to work on the following Monday in practice. There was no bragging about a long putt to save par or a drive that arced clear of the trees on 12.

“I had trouble 130 yards out and putting,” explained Geoffrey Penn. “I always want to be improving.”

The focus seems to be paying off. Although Mexico finished third in a home quadrangular, their team score of 187 fell just six back of second place Kirksville and nine behind the winner, Centralia.

Individually, Aiden Knipfel continued his string of top two finishes. He shot a 41 to tie with Kirksville’s Andrew Nothdurf for second. Dylan Kenney, also of Kirksville, fired a 37 to top the leaderboard.

“I was hoping for high 30s,” said Knipfel, who led the Bulldogs on the scorecard. “But it came down to the short game – putting and chipping.”

Although the Tigers had two golfers at the top, Centralia’s consistency kept them out front. Noah Brooks carded a 42, placing him fourth individually. The rest of the roster was groups closely behind. None of the Panthers finished higher than 46.

Cayden Anderson of Eugene came in with 45 to complete the top five.

Mexico’s Grant Qualls had trouble on 13 – varsity played Arthur Hills’ back nine – but steadied himself and wrapped up the evening with a 45 to tie Centralia’s Cullen Bennett and Ethan Jones.

The rest of the Bulldogs lineup flirted with breaking 50.

Landon Love was on the mark, hitting 50 even. Jackson Unger finished one stroke in arrears and Penn carded a respectable 52.

“We have three tournaments next week,” observed head coach Tim Schoonover. “This leads nicely into that.”

On the JV side, the Bulldogs played copycat rounds. Adam Love, Sam Adair and Jayden Hatfield each shot 63. Evan Heaton and Cooper Orr complemented each other with 67s.

“I was really proud of the JV,” Schoonover said.