HANNIBAL — Making the long trek to America’s Hometown in northeast Missouri, last Monday, Tanner Hinson’s Belle Tiger golf team looked to make the trip well worth it during the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 2, District 2 Golf Tournament hosted by Monroe City High School at Norwoods Golf Club in Hannibal.

One stroke shy of the top 10 overall, Belle sophomore Gage Vandegriffe became a two-time state qualifier after carding an 18-hole round of 81 good for 11th place individually.

Right behind him was fellow Tiger sophomore Kelhen Struemph who carded a round of 82 putting him in a five-way tie for 12th place with Palmyra senior Tony White, South Callaway sophomore Eli Hutchison, Monroe City sophomore Michael Spalding, and Duchesne junior Austin Schoene.

Senior Avery Craigmiles just missed extending his season by another week carding a round of 84 placing him in a four-way tie for 20th place individually with Monroe City junior Julian Moss, Monroe City sophomore Collin Potterfield and Missouri Military Academy senior Fernando Puebla.

Next for the Tigers in Hannibal was junior Tucker Harris with a round of 114 putting him in a three-way tie for 68th place with Macon senior Dallas McMullen and Montgomery County senior Jacob Ridenhour.

Rounding out Belle’s contingency of golfers at districts was senior Kaegan Kinsey with a round of 121 good for 77th place.

Vandegriffe and Struemph started play Monday in the MSHSAA Class 2 Boys Golf Championships at Bogey Creek Golf Club in Farmington with their second round being played yesterday (Tuesday) weather and course conditions permitting as rain and thunderstorms were in the forecast for most of Missouri.