Darren Kinnard
Section618.com

After day one, area golfers have a share of the the lead in the Girls 1A, Boys 1A, and Boys 2A State Tournaments. Mt. Carmel’s girls have an 11-shot lead in their bid to repeat as 1A champion, while the Benton Rangers find themselves 4 shots back, in third place in the 2A boys tournament.

Mt. Carmel’s Mady Young shot a 3-under 69 to grab a share of the lead at the Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur. Centralia’s Opal Domethong is tied for 7th after a 3-over 75. Young has edged Domethong in playoffs to win medalist honors at both the regional and sectional. Young’s teammate, Maria Kennard sits 14th after a 77. Harrisburg’s Frankie Leigh Nicholes is a shot behind Kennard in 15th.

Elise Coakley carded an 84 to lead Massac County. The Lady Patriots grabbed the final spot in the final round by two shots.

Christ Our Rock Lutheran junior Parker Boehne is in a three-way tie atop the 1A Boys leaderboard after firing a 1-over 73. Nashville’s Parker Renken is tied for eighth, three shots back. Anna-Jonesboro’s Aidan McFadden and Mt. Carmel’s Kollin Kelsey are tied for 34th with 82s. West Frankfort’s Ben Herron also made the cut and will compete on the final day thanks to an 84.

Benton’s River Stilley shares the top spot in 2A Boys with a 1-over 72. Carmel’s Jacob Lutzke, Geneseo’s Hayden Moore, and Benet Academy’s Charles Davenport also carded 72s. Carbondale’s Ian Davis and Salem’s Jairen Stroud are tied for 15th with 76s.

The Rangers find themselves in third place as a team, four shots back of defending champ St. Ignatius College Prep and one shot back of Benet Academy. Defending individual champ Cy Norman is tied for 23rd individually after shooting a 77. Kash Cantrell (79) and Nick Melvin (80) were the other two scores used for Benton.