WOOD RIVER • The Alton boys golf team couldn't have picked a better time to shoot its best score of the season.
Led by a pair of 77s from sophomores Joe Schwartz and Charles Orman, the Redbirds posted a team score of 311 to win Tuesday's Southwestern Conference Tournament at Belk Park. Edwardsville, led by a 75 from individual medalist Drew Curtis, placed second at 316, while Collinsville (318) finished third.
"That's the first time we've ever had four scores in the 70s," Schwartz said. "Orman played JV last year and he started playing a lot better this year. What he did for us today is awesome."
Ray Stanard (78) and Evan Franklin (79) rounded out the top four scores for Alton, which is in the Class 3A Collinsville Regional on Oct. 4 at Arlington Greens. That tournament includes all eight SWC schools, plus Quincy and Springfield.
"I was surprised the scores were that good with the tees as far back as they had them, plus there was the wind," Redbirds coach Mike Hudock said. "I talked to the superintendent and they hadn't mowed the fairways in eight days because their rough mower broke.
"At the regional, we could finish anywhere. We've beaten every team that will be there, but we've lost to some of those teams, too. It just comes down to who plays well that day and I hope it's us."
On the way to medalist honors, Curtis shot 34 on the front nine and 41 on the back nine.
"Under the conditions, it was a very good day for me," said Curtis, a junior. "The forecast said the wind would be about 15 (miles an hour) and it ended up being much more than that."
Curtis, who is also a standout in basketball and baseball, feels Belk Park is ideal for his game.
"I hit the ball kind of wild sometimes," Curtis said, grinning. "So when you get a somewhat open course like this, it's always nice."
Also scoring for Edwardsville were Drew Blaske (75), Cameron Hicks (80) and Ty Zeller 83).
"Hats off to Alton -- they played great and they're very deserving," Tigers coach Dean Schickedanz said. "In the summertime, we talked about who was going to be good in the conference and I said they might be the odds-on favorite. They struggled a little bit during the regular season, but they have a great group of kids that can play golf."
Including dual matches in the regular season, Edwardsville won the overall SWC championship, while Alton and Collinsville tied for second place.
"Our main goal was to win the conference and we ended up doing that," Schickedanz said. "We didn't put our best foot forward today, but the course played difficult and we had to deal with the wind. Overall, I'm proud of our effort."
Branden Henson (78) had the top score for Collinsville, followed by Adam Garcia (79), Jordan Bost (80) and Keenai Sampson (81).
Belleville East and O'Fallon each shot 321 to tie for fourth place in the tournament, Danny Snyder led East with a 77, while Jon Hackmann (77) was the top scorer for O'Fallon.
Belleville West (327), Granite City (347) and East St. Louis (555) completed the eight-team field.
