Grant Qualls fired a 78 to claim third spot on the leaderboard and All Conference honors at the NCMC conference tournament Friday at Arthur Hills Golf Course.
Aiden Knipfel struggled on the front …
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![Grant Qualls makes a point to his Mexico golf teammates as they await the outcome of a playoff between Hannibal's Quinn Thomas and Hunter Parker. With Qualls are Tyler Scheiner, Aiden Knipfel, Haden Hatfield, Landon Love and Geoffrey Penn. [Dave Faries]](https://epsilon.creativecirclecdn.com/mexicoledger/original/20210723-134904-Conference%20golf%203%204c.jpg)
Grant Qualls fired a 78 to claim third spot on the leaderboard and All Conference honors at the NCMC conference tournament Friday at Arthur Hills Golf Course.
Aiden Knipfel struggled on the front nine, but began to find his stroke after the turn to finish with an uncharacteristic 89. It was enough for the final spot on the All Conference roster.
Hannibal took team honors with a combined 318, comfortably ahead of Kirksville’s 337. Mexico ended up fifth overall in the six team field.
The outcome could have been even better for Qualls, who recorded an even 39-39. He was on track for a 76, but bladed his wedge on 16 – his final hole in the shotgun start – to suffer a double bogey.
“I had high expectations and a lot of nerves,” said Qualls, who spent five hours on course the day before in preparation for conference. “It was fun.”
Hannibal’s Quinn Thomas and Hunter Parker finished in a draw at the top of the leaderboard. Both carded low rounds of 73, forcing a playoff for the conference crown.
The pair remained tied after the first extra hole and moved on to a second. Thomas came out the winner.
Geoffrey Penn was third on the Bulldogs card, recording an even 100 on the day. He was hurt by a violation when he picked up on a hole when he reached double par, unaware that for conference play a 10 stroke limit was in place.
“I was having a good day,” he pointed out. “I would have had a 97. On the front nine I did well.”
Jaden Hatfield hit 106, followed by Landon Love at 111 and Tyler Scheiner’s 116.
Knipfel’s turnaround began on 10. He parred three of the first four holes after the turn and redeemed his front nine 47 with a respectable 42, hampered by a double bogey on the par five 15.
Qualls, meanwhile, was consistent throughout the round. He saved his best for 14, a par three with woods protecting the right and exposure to wind from the left. Qualls drove a 5 iron to within 20 yards of the pin and his chip shot rolled in for a birdie.
“It was awesome,” he said.
Marshall finished third on the team board, with Fulton fourth. Moberly slotted in at the bottom.
In addition to Qualls, Knipfel there were a dozen earning All Conference medals. Thomas and Quinn at the top of the leaderboard picked up medals for Hannibal, as did Courtland Watson and Ashlin Sharkey. Fulton’s Michael Holtkamp, Walker Gohring and Lincoln Smith were honored.
From Kirksville it was Johnny Boyer, Dylan Kinney and Andrew Nothdurft. Connor McGraw and Logan Alspach of Marshall made the list, as well.
