[05/10/01] St. Aloysius’ second-round score ballooned by 35 strokes to finish third in the state tournament at Wolf Hollow in Wesson on Wednesday.

The Flashes finished with a two-day team total of 709 five strokes behind Mercy Cross and 29 behind champion West Union.

If St. Al would have matched its first-day total of 337, it would have won its first Class 1A title since 1998.

Only John Caldwell bettered his score from the previous day, firing an 82 to finish with a two-day total of 165. Beau Theobald shot 94 (177), Andy Amborn had a 97 (183) and Brett Bailess added a 99 (185).

Medalist Brady Brock of West Union shot 76 and 83 to lead his team to a final total of 680.

St. Al finished ahead of Madison-St. Joe (717), Smithville (772), Thrasher (773) and East Union (807).