St. Aloysius returns four golfers off last year’s Class 1A state title team and on Monday, at Clear Creek Golf Course, the Flashes got to take on the big boys in the Warren Central Invitational.

St. Al finished second to Class 5A runner-up Northwest Rankin, one of five 5A teams in the seven-team field for the team title by 11 strokes. All five of Northwest’s scorers broke 80, led by medalist Bobby Bowlin’s two-over par 74.

That was two shots better than St. Al’s Alex Lanier, who carded a 76 along with Northwest’s Brad Blakeney.

“To have a 79 thrown out as your fifth score shows you how good a team Northwest Rankin has,” WC coach Jesse Johnson said.

If Lanier could have parred his final hole at No. 5, he could’ve shared the medalist award with Bowlin.

“It would’ve been my second one. I shared one with John (Lindigrin) last year at the district tournament here,” Lanier said. Known mostly for his basketball exploits, the 2009 All-County player displayed his touch around the links.

“I played pretty good, but I finished bad,” Lanier said. “On the last hole, I doubled (bogeyed). It was at No. 5 and my second shot was 50 yards away and I hit my wedge short and it went into the water. Before then, I had a couple of birdies and a whole lot of pars.”

Bowlin credited his short game for the win.

“My putting worked pretty good,” said Bowlin, who had two birdies and just four bogeys.

To play Northwest Rankin to within 11 strokes, says a lot about St. Al’s chances of winning a third straight Class 1A title.

“I think we’re pretty stacked. John (Lindigrin), Charles (Marsalis) and Chris (Ingram) are all back,” Lanier said.

Lindigrin, Ingram and Marsalis all had tough days. Lindigrin shot a 79 while Ingram was in position to join Lanier until faltering at the end.

Nick Mekus rounded out the St. Al scorers with an 80 and Marsalis’ 84 was tossed from the team scores.

Beside’s Blakeney’s 76, Northwest got a 77 from Weston Wallace and Kevin Bradley had a 78.

Warren Central’s Parker Rutherford was expected to crack the top five, especially after shooting a 73 two weeks ago at Patrick Farms, but had a tough day as well under breezy conditions and carded an 80.

“Played decent, scored bad,” Rutherford said. “It was partly the wind, but mainly, I just couldn’t get up and down. Two birdies and nine holes of fun. Birdied 16 and 8, but then bogeyed 11, 12, 14, 15, 1, 3, 4 and 5 and doubled 18. But I did par 6.”

Rutherford was the only regular starter the Vikings had available Monday. Johnson had to trot out four newcomers as one starter recovers from a broken leg and two others were suspended. Todd Davidson and Kade Oldenberg had 95s and Nathan West had a 96 as the Vikings finished at 366 in fifth place. That was still good enough to beat Vicksburg (417) and Natchez (422). Clinton was third at 343 and Terry was a stroke back at 344.

Vicksburg was led by Michael Rohrer at 96.

Nine girls participated in a nine-hole match won by the Lady Vikes’ Cara Channel with a 44. Madison Central’s Maria Dahmash was second with a 47 followed by teammate Anstasia Richardson’s 48. WC’s Peyton Rutherford was fourth with a 49.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com.