Villa Duchesne Begins Defense of its State Golf Championship

The Villa Duchesne golf team finished third in district play last fall.

That is usually the kiss of death as only the top two teams from districts advance to sectional competition.

But the top 15 individuals from the non-sectional qualifying teams also move on to sectional and the Saints had enough golfters do so to also qualify as a team.

And the Saints made the most of it the rest of the way, culminating in a Class 1 state title.

This year's Class 1 District 1 Tournament will be played Wednesday at the Landings at Spirit Golf Club in Chesterfield.

Last year's district tournament was one of the most competitive in memory as MICDS and Westminster Christian tied for first with a score of 348 with Villa Duchesne just a stroke behind at 349.

Those three teams then went on to a one, two, three finish at state with Villa winning with 689, followed by MICDS with 704 and Westminster with 723.

"I would love to see another one, two, three finish for not just St. Louis  but also the new Metro League," Saints coach Linda Potter said.

Villa and Westminster each finished the regular season undefeated in dual matches (their match against each other was cancelled due to extreme heat). Westminster has had the advantage in tournament play, though.

"Most of the teams in our district lost some key players," Potter said. "We had only one returning player. Westminster did not lose anybody and they also gained a really good player. They are the team to beat."

Villa, as it has been in the past, is a balanced team without a true superstar. Seniors Callie Frey, Libby Reeves and Anna Reeves and junior Emily Cataldo lead the team in average, all within a stroke of each other.

Teams in Class 1, District 1 include: John Burroughs; MICDS; Villa Duchesne; Barat: Caruthersville; Clayton; Duchesne; Lutheran South; Notre Dame; Richland; Boriga; Visitation; and Westminster.

St. Joseph's Academy lost a lot of key players, including two top 10 golfers, from last year's team which finished third in Class 2.

Sophomore Kelsey Thompson is the lone returning player from that team. Thompson and senior Bridget Banks have been the team's top two golfers this season. It is not an elite Angels' squad but a team which is capable of advancing to sectional because of a weak district.

"I have a very young team with very little experience," Angels coach Carol Fromuth said. "We have not faced any of the other teams in our district although I feel that it should come down to us and Parkway West."

The Class 2 District 3 Tournament will be held Wednesday at Crescent Farms.

Teams in the district include: Hazelwood Central; Hazelwood East; Hazelwood West; Incarnate Word; McCluer North; Parkway Central; Parkway North; Parkway West; Pattonville; Ritenour; and St. Joseph's Academy.