St. Aloysius golfer Chase Smith studies his shot angle as Greenville St. Joseph’s Michael Langdon taps in for a par putt on the eighth hole at Vicksburg Country Club. Smith shot a 75, and the Flashes entered today’s final round of the Class 1A state championship tournament 12 strokes behind Cathedral. (C. Todd ShermanThe Vicksburg Post)

[05/07/03]St. Aloysius’ golf team faces an uphill climb today as steep as the signature hills of the Vicksburg Country Club.

The Flashes entered today’s second round of the Class 1A state tournament 12 strokes behind first-place Cathedral at 318, and 11 back of West Union. The field teed off this morning on the final day of the two-day event.

Cathedral, the defending state champions, got a 72 from senior Mark Carter, the closest golfer to par for the afternoon. Par at VCC is 70.

“I knew I had a chance to score on the front nine,” said Carter, who shot a 1-under on the front. “It’s very difficult to shoot under par on the back nine.”

Jordan Farmer shot a 75 for Cathedral, while Tyler Crisp shot an 85, and Mark Hall shot an 86.

The Flashes, who won a state championship six years ago when the tournament was last at VCC, had only one player shoot better than 84.

Chase Smith, whose father Kent is the golf pro at VCC, shot a team-best 75. He said that several of the players in his group were taking extra time, losing balls in the woods and slowing down any rythym he could generate.

“It was like that on every hole,” said Smith, who shot even par on the front 9. “Every hole we were at, they’d have to stop and look for lost balls. That doesn’t help your game.”

Don Marcus shot an 84, while Brett Bailess shot an 85 and Nick Whitney hit an 86.

The Flashes will have to make up 12 strokes on an already difficult course, which was pelted with heavy rain on Tuesday night.

Smith said winning the state championship will be a very difficult proposition.

“We have to all play really good,” Smith said.

West Union had all four of its golfers shoot betwen 78 and 82.

Union was in fourth place at 337. They were followed by Greenville St. Joseph (372), Ingomar (405), Thrasher (405), and Wheeler (485).