Hounds 7th at section golf in Fairfield

FAIRFIELD – Cole Quittem fired a 15-over 85 and missed advancing to the Class 3A golf districts on Monday by two strokes.
Quittem and the Hounds rallied to dig out of the cellar at Fairfield Golf and Country Club Wednesday afternoon, combining for a 384, 15 ahead of Centerville for seventh place in the eight-team field.
The Hounds were in eight place entering the final nine holes, but rallied.
Quittem hit a blistering drive on Hole No. 7 the second time around the nine-hole par 35 course. His drive was just past pin-high and he birdied the hole after a chip from off the green left him within 8 inches of the cup.
He then striped another drive on Hole No. 8, leaving him just a chip shot from about 30 yards away for his second shot. But the chip caught a heavy spot on the front cut of the green and dribbled forward, leaving a 9-foot putt for birdie, which could have put him in a tie for the final second spot. His first putt slid by the hole and he missed a quick put back for a three putt and a bogey 5. He would have needed an eagle to move into contention with just one hole to play, but parred the 9th hole to finish with an 85.
“I wanted a two putt there on eight and got a little too aggressive and it went a little long. I was really feeling I needed a birdie on those last two holes and it didn’t happen,” Quittem said.
Quittem said he started slow and kept looking back at the leaderboard, which was available on Kodiak Golf’s app. Quittem regularly looked at his phone while playing the final three holes trying to figure out what he needed to advance.

“I kept looking back at the board and kept trying and trying and I was thinking if I could just keep parring, I would get back in it, keep the right mindset,” he said.
“But you gotta finish.”
The top three teams at each sectional advance to district play on Monday. And then the top two individuals including ties, from outside the top three teams also qualify for districts.
Rowan Benda was the only other Bloodhound under 100 with a 90. The junior was at 87 but tripled the final hole, however he wouldn’t have been able to get into the top two individuals regardless of the score on his final hole.
Jared Jenkins, Lucas Helmick, Daniel Seager and Colton Boyer all finished consecutive 40-43 for the Hounds with Jenkins shooting a 103, Helmick and Seager both had a 106, and Colton Boyer had a 107.
Keokuk finished 6th overall with 366 points and was led by Ashton Snodgrass (86), who played in Quittem’s foresome. Kyler Beelman was second for the Chiefs with a 91.
The loss eliminates the Hounds from districts and puts a wrap on the season.
Pella’s Kyler Besick had a late run at Washington’s Rajan Roth and beat the Demon by a stroke to take the sectional title with a 76. Roth had a 77 and Pella’s Landon Reynolds captured third with a 78, ahead of Washington’s Drew Conrad.