SWANSEA - Granite City golfer Clark Spalding had a round to remember Tuesday afternoon in the Illinois Class 3A Belleville East Regional.

Spalding, a junior, shot the best round of his high school career, a 3-over-par 74 to win medalist honors and help the Warriors to their first sectional appearance since 1998. They shot a 316 team score to finish second behind regional champion Quincy.

The Blue Devils won their state-best 43rd regional/district title with a 311. Edwardsville finished third with 319, followed by Collinsville (325), Belleville East (330), O'Fallon (338), Belleville West (348) and Alton (364). East St. Louis had no team score.

"The way I started out today, you would have never thought that," Spalding said of his 74, which included a 38 on the front side. "It was just a rough start. With conditions like these, you've just got to ... it's the same for everybody."

The regional, held on the 6,048-yard, par-71 Clinton Hill Golf Course, started 30 minutes late because of rainy weather. Once the rain stopped, the wind picked up, making the course play longer.

The difficult first hole, a 428-yard par 4, got Spalding off to a slow start. Even though he placed his drive in the middle of the fairway, it came to rest in a hole. Playing the ball down, Spalding topped his second shot but eventually got on the green, where he proceeded to three-putt from about 15 feet. He had to sink a three-footer for double bogey.

"I'm still kind of in shock," he said of winning medalist honors. "I didn't see myself playing this well. I was a little depressed after the first hole, but I was able to come back on the next few holes to get my confidence back up.

"It definitely wasn't easy. I would have been happy with 80 today. I knew that would probably make it."

Spalding's 74, along with Bret Denap's 75, Tyler Hendrick's 83 and Devin Desper's 84, was good enough to put Granite in the sectional Monday in Pekin at Lick Creek.

"This is great," Denap said. "I didn't see this coming at the beginning of the season. But our three and four guys have really picked up their games and have worked hard to get to where they are today."

In addition to winning this regional, Quincy won its 21st Western Big Six Conference title last week. The school has made 41 state tournament appearances. Although the Blue Devils don't have a star golfer who will give them a solid score every tournament or every match, they do have a consistent team.

Leading the way was Luke Niederhauser, who carded a 76, followed by Tom Castillo (77), Nick Burry (78) and Mike Davis (80). Also scoring was Will Castillo (82) and Austin Schwartz (85).

"Quincy, over the years, has been blessed with an incredible amount of great golfers," said Blue Devils coach Doug Bruner. "We are very proud of that. This is my seventh year coaching, and this is probably my least strongest team. I've got a bunch of good players. I don't have that necessary lock, put it on the board 72. But we've got a bunch of good players."

While Quincy, Granite and Edwardsville all qualified for the sectional as a team, eight individuals also will play at Lick Creek on Monday.

Collinsville will have four golfers — Nathan Nottrott (80), Colin Ahlvers (81), Zach Holland (81) and Tyler Hermes (83) — playing in Pekin. Belleville East will have two in Kevin Ward (77) and Andy Rains (81), and O'Fallon (Sam Summerlin, 78) and Alton (Kevin Boyd, 83) have one each.

In the boys Class 2A Carbondale Regional at Hickory Ridge, Waterloo won the team title with a 309 score over Althoff (313) and Mount Vernon (313) on the 6,486-yard, par 72 course.

The win puts the Bulldogs on their home course at Annbriar on Monday in the sectional.

Wils Hawn (77), Jake Brumfield (77), Chris Pickett (77) and Tim Yeager (78) scored for Waterloo, which won their fourth regional title and first since 2005.

For Althoff, James Leopold led the way with a 74, followed by Sam Lidisky (76), Austin Von Alst (78) and Mason Westzel (85). Patrick Orlet also carded an 85.

Jaret Brewer (73) of Marion was the medalist. He was one of eight individuals who advanced to the sectional on Monday at Annbriar.

Mascoutah will send two to Clinton Hill after Alec White shot a 78 and Matt McKenzie recorded an 80.

In the 2A Highland Regional at Timber Lakes in Staunton, Centralia was the team winner with 321 strokes, followed by Mater Dei (323) and host Highland (325).

Justin Vogt of Mater Dei was the medalist shooting a 2-under par 70 over the 6,700-yard, par 72 layout. He along with teammates Parker Lawrence (77), Robbie Donnewald (88) and Steve Becker (88) counted for the Knights. Also scoring was Scott Droege (97) and Jarod Lohman (107).

For Highland, Brendan Bargetzi (72) led the way followed by Nick Italiano (82), David Ammann (85) and Chris Ehlke (86). Michael Boyer (89) and Kalen Wagoner (90) also scored.

Individually, Jerseyville will have four golfers heading to Annbriar on Monday _ Josh Steckel (82), Andrew Mail (85), Mitch Madson (85) and Kyle Stagner (86) scored, while Triad has two _ Jimmy Konsky (80) and Tyler Dougherty (86).

In the Class 1A Alton Marquette regional at 5,731-yard, par 71 Rolling Hills Golf Course in Godfrey, Hillsboro won the team title with a 314 over Roxana (327) and host Marquette (334).

Scoring for Roxana was Jered Hogan, who was medalist with an even-par 71 followed by Eathan Guss (79), Zach Johnson (87) and Alex Urioste (90). Matt Mellenthin also shot a 90.

For Marquette, Danny Selby (81) was the leader as Steve Ditman and Jack Kane each shots 83s and Brian Gebben had an 87.

Individuallly, John Stimac of Wood River (78), Mike Sabationo (80) and Brett Guthrie of Piasa Southwestern (81) advanced to Monday's Havana Sectional at Shambolee Golf Course in Petersburg.

In the 1A Valmeyer Regional at the Prairies in Cahokia, Columbia (312), Red Bud (328) and Carlyle (333) advanced to Monday's Benton Sectional at Rend Lake.

Columbia's Drew Weisenborn was the medalist shooting a 1-over 72 over the 5,907-yard, par 71 course as he helped the Eagles to the title. Also firing a 72 was Joey Bert and Andrew Kreutzer (84) and William Pirtle (84) were the other scores that counted.

For Red Bud, Heath Kipping shot a 78, followed by Michael Letcher (80), Jason Doore (82) and Rhet Ringering (88). Carlyle, making its first sectional appearance, was led by Kody Bolk (79). Scott Huels (83), Nate Miller (85) and Tyson Boehne (86) were the other scores to count.

Individually, Steve Souchek (76) of Gibault, Matt Hackmann (77) of Metro-East Lutheran, Nathan Friz (82) of Valmeyer, Chad Hill (83) of Freeburg, Casey Pitchford (82) and Brock Waldrup (82) of Marissa and Dustin Hoffmeier (78) and Tanner Neese (82) of Greenville will represent the area at Benton on Monday.

kroberts@post-dispatch.com > 618-257-0745