By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
NEW BLOOMFIELD - The Bishop LeBlond boys' golf team has done it yet again.
After getting to state as a team for an eighth consecutive season this spring, the Golden Eagles add another title to their aresenal.
LeBlond won the Class 3 boys' state golf championship at Meadow Lake Acres Golf Club in New Bloomfield, finishing with a two-day score of 622 - 10 shots ahead of second place Logan-Rogersville.
That's now four state titles in the last five years for LeBlond boys' golf and their fifth overall since 2016.
"We knew we were capable of it," LeBlond head coach Mitch Girres said. "Once you get down here, you still have to perform. There's a lot of things that factor in. The course, the weather."
"We struggled at times today. It did get kind of close on the team (standings) side of things for awhile. The kids kind of just barreled through it. We figured out a way to play well enough to win."
Junior Tim Johnston won the individual state championship with a two-day score of 145. He shot a one-over par 73 on Monday and even par 72 Tuesday.
He becomes the third LeBlond boys' golfer in history to win an individual state title, joining Sam Schoeberl (2022) and Brooks Jungbluth (2018).
"It means a lot," Johnston said humbly. "This is what we've been working for and it feels good to finish the job. It feels good to win state. It's always been a goal."
After battling through off-and-on rain showers Monday, LeBlond waded through a soppy course Tuesday, but there was little additional rainfall, as conditions remained cloudy and cool.
The Eagles teed off on Tuesday morning with a nine-shot lead after the first round.
"Having that lead coming into today, it was nice to have a cushion," Girres said. "With Tim playing the way he played, that really helped out. All of the kids really fought and played well and at times just grinded it out when they had to."
Tim Johnston birdied on holes 5, 7 and 15 in the second round and parred his last three holes Tuesday to protect his lead and win the tournament by two strokes.
Tim carried himself in that lead pack like he carries himself in any other situation - calm, collected and not letting his emotions show.
"I try to stay focused during the round," he said softly. "I don't really talk too much. I just like to stay focused and kind of do my own thing."
"He's like an old man," Girres said of Tim's demeanor. "He really is. He kind of just bee-bops around out there, slow, at his own pace and does his thing. But, he's really good and really talented."
Schoeberl, who will golf at Missouri Western with LeBlond alum Jeffrey Johnston starting this fall, medaled seventh in his final state tournament, shooting a 153.
Pat Johnston, Tim's twin brother, shot a 155 to place ninth. Tim and Pat are now three-time state medalists in their respective varsity careers.
While the Golden Eagles say goodbye to Schoeberl, both Johnston twins, state qualifier Davis Jungbluth and several more will be back in 2024, poised to keep LeBlond at the top of the state leaderboard again next spring.
"I'm excited," Tim said. "It'll be another good team and hopefully we can do the same."
"I think every year we come down here, I tell them all, 'Any one of you guys can win it,'" Girres added. "You have that ability and we've been lucky these last two years to have kids who can pull it off."
Other local results from Class 3 in Bloomfield
Kamden Morlock (Benton) - 165 (t-24th)
- A freshman, Morlock shot a 78 Tuesday after an 87 Monday.
Zachary Merritt (Savannah) - 168 (t-30th)
Davis Jungbluth (LeBlond) - 169 (t-34th)
You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.