How two putts helped Sacred Heart boys golf win its seventh straight state championship

EMPORIA —  Luke Newell and Michael Matteucci had to make the biggest putts of their Sacred Heart golf careers on Monday.

With the Knights struggling on the first day of the Class 2A state championship, their hopes of winning the program's seventh consecutive state championship were in jeopardy.

Newell, a freshman, and Matteucci, a sophomore, were the final two golfers left on the course. Newell made his putt and then Matteucci followed suit giving the Knights a one-stroke lead over Hoxie entering Tuesday's final round.  Then rain and course conditions suspended and eventually canceled Tuesday's final round giving Sacred Heart its seventh and state tying state championship at Emporia Municipal Golf Course.

"I was just really relieved that I made my par and shot a 76," said Newell, who finished in a tie for third with teammate Walker Tuttle. "I knew Mikey was doing bad on the first day. Him making that putt and giving us the lead was really great."

Matteucci said he was nervous because he had known what his other teammates were doing.

"I knew I needed to two-putt because I was on the green and shaking a little bit," said Matteucci, who finished in a tie for 20th with a round of 84. "I just felt relieved that I made the putt and helped a little bit (Monday) because I didn't shoot my best round. It was really helpful that Luke and Walker shot as good as they did."

Sacred Heart coach Patrick Newell said he walked through the scenarios with Matteucci and Luke Newell of what they needed to do and get the Knights the lead after day one. Monday's opening round totals were reverted as the official scores with weather canceling the final round.

Tuttle, who already had completed his round, looked on as Luke Newell and Matteucci made their putts to put the Knights in front. If one of them didn't make their putts, scoring would have gone to a tiebreaker situation with both Sacred Heart and Hoxie having rounds of 319.

The tiebreaker would have been based on both teams' No. 5 golfers, which also would have favored the Knights.

"I was pretty happy that (Matteucci) made that putt," Tuttle said.

Sacred Heart's team camaraderie is huge

Even though golf is an individual sport, the team aspect still matters for the Knights.

They know what it takes for them to be successful and how they need to play in tournaments.

Sacred Heart was tested throughout the spring, facing some of the best golfers in Kansas.

"They all love each other and that's what it takes," Coach Newell said. "Nobody's in it for themselves. We're in it for a team."

While Luke Newell and Tuttle led the way, Hunter Newell finished in a tie for 10th with an 82 and Matteucci followed with an 84. Nate Elmore shot an 85 and Max Ehrlich finished with an 87, just missing medalist honors.

Sacred Heart to return majority of team for 2023

The Knights will be a threat again in 2023 with everyone back except Elmore, who is graduating.

Having four juniors and a sophomore lead the way, Coach Newell likes the position they're in to win the school's eighth consecutive state championship.

"We should be better," Coach Newell said.

Matteucci said it was good for this group to battle some adversity to keep the Knights' steak going.

"It feels good, because we didn't want to let the people down that went through the school before (us)," Matteucci said. "We just want to keep it going for the next couple of years."

Luke Newell agreed.

"This is going to be big time the next few years for us to win two more state championships and get that streak up to nine," Luke Newell said.

Hoxie's Dowell wins individual championship

Hoxie's Ashton Dowell said his driver was struggling, but his putter helped save him.

Dowell, a senior, won the individual championship with a round of 74, one stroke better than Ellinwood's Andrew Heinz. Dowell and the Indians finished second as a team with a score of 319.

"A lot of putts went down, that's for sure," Dowell said. "We were right there, but it wasn't enough, and that's just how it goes."

Dowell said he intends to play golf in college at either Fort Hays State University as a walk-on or at Bethel College.

More: Here are 20 Saline County track and field athletes to watch at the KSHSAA state meet

Dylan Sherwood has been a sports reporter for the Salina Journal since August 2019. He can be reached at dsherwood@salina.com or on Twitter @DSherwoodSJ

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Sacred Heart boys golf wins Class 2A state championship