After flirting with the cut line for the postseason all spring, the St. Aloysius Flashes are heading to the MAIS Class AAA state golf tournament.

Wilson Palmertree shot a 77 to finish fourth in the individual standings, and St. Al qualified for next week’s state tournament by finishing third in the team standings at the South State tournament Wednesday at Beau Pré Country Club in Natchez.

Central Hinds won the tournament with a team score of 319, and Cathedral’s Chase Kaiser was the individual medalist after shooting a 71.

Central Hinds’ Ryan Talley and Silliman’s Brett Baker each shot a 76 to tie for second place, and Palmertree was another shot back. Those four, as well as Central Hinds’ Blake Montepelier with a 78, were the only ones to break 80.

Silliman finished second with a team score of 333, St. Al was third at 346, and Porter’s Chapel Academy shot a 380 to finish fourth and advance to the state tournament for the first time in school history. The top four teams, as well as the top four individuals who shot 85 or lower and whose teams were not among the top four, qualified for the state tournament.

The state tournament is May 8 at the Mississippi State University Golf Course in Starkville.
St. Al did not shoot the required postseason qualifying score of 350 until its last regular-season tournament two weeks ago at the Vicksburg Country Club. It has now bettered that mark twice in a row.

Palmertree’s 77 was the team’s low score, while Joshua Larsen shot an 84, Davis Black an 87, and Will Keen a 98 to round out the team score.

Bryson Whitaker shot an 87 to lead PCA’s effort. Luke Yocum shot an 89, Brayden Ray a 97, and Wes Bryan 107. The Eagles were well off the pace set by Central Hinds, but with only four full teams playing in the tournament they were guaranteed to advance to the state tournament.

Wayne Academy, Cathedral, Columbia Academy, Laurel Christian and Riverfield Academy all had golfers playing in the tournament, but not enough to field the four-man team required for a team score.

Cathedral’s Kaiser (71), Wayne’s Kaleb Brewer (83), Columbia’s Jarrett Clinton (83) and Laurel Christian’s Wilton Moorer (85) received the four individual spots in the state tournament.

MAIS CLASS AAA BOYS
SOUTH STATE TOURNAMENT
Individual leaderboard
At Beau Pre, Natchez
Chase Kaiser (Cathedral) 71
Ryan Talley (Central Hinds) 76
Brett Baker (Silliman) 76
Wilson Palmertree (St. Aloysius) 77
Blake Montepelier (Central Hinds) 78
Seth Mohler (Central Hinds) 81
Hastings Dawson (Silliman) 82
Jarrett Clinton (Columbia Aca.) 83
Kaleb Brewer (Wayne Academy) 83
Joshua Larsen (St. Aloysius) 84
Zack Talley (Central Hinds) 84
Jeffery Richburg (Central Hinds) 84
Team scores
Central Hinds 319
Silliman Institute 333
St. Aloysius 346
Porter’s Chapel Academy 380