BLOOMINGTON — With each passing season, Connor Watson continues to be more and more impressive.
“To say that he’s exceeded my expectations,” East Peoria boys golf coach Matt Plummer said of his senior captain, “it’s kind of silly because he meets any expectation anyone would ever put on him and more.”
Plummer went on to list the qualities that any coach loves having in a star athlete: “a simple guy, generous, soft spoken, high character and a good young man.”
“You just don’t always see the ridiculous athleticism when kids act like that,” said Plummer, who also coaches Watson on the EP baseball team. “It’s the skillset he has. It’s the mindset he has and he’s an unbelievable winner.
“… It’s just so fun to watch. What a kid.”
2024 IHSA golf state finals: Every trophy, medalist winner in Bloomington-Normal, Decatur
Watson put a bow on his prep career when he tied for fourth place at the Class 2A Illinois High School Association state finals on Saturday. He shot a final-round 2-under 69 on the Weibring Golf Club course, matching David Perkins (2013 Class 2A fourth place) for the best individual finish in program history.
Since the 2022 state finals, Watson approved by 20 spots each year on the leaderboard; he tied for 44th as a sophomore, tied for 24th as a junior and now a top-five finish in 2024.
“Each year, I’ve played good,” Watson said, “but there’s always something to improve and I’ve learned to stay in the moment and enjoy it a lot and have fun. … It’s a great way to end my career. I’m really happy with it.”
In his under-par round, Watson posted five birdies on 2, 8, 11, 12 and 16. This came on the heels of him finishing 1-over 72 on Friday with birdies on three of the last four holes. That helped elevate the Class 2A Champaign Centennial Sectional champion into contention for a state championship.
“(Those birdies) gave me a lot of confidence to just play good … ,” Watson said. “Just making birdies and do my best and enjoy the round.”
Plus, Watson found himself paired with Peoria Notre Dame’s Jack Coulter during the final round. The sophomore finished tied for 21st with a 10-over 81 after a 1-over 72 on Friday.
Coulter had a rough back nine Saturday, with four bogeys and two double-bogeys for a 7-over 42. But he remained positive about his six-place improvement from his freshman season.
“Today wasn’t the best,” Coulter said, “but it’s never perfect out here. … I know that my game’s good enough and I’m a good enough player to come back here, so I’m not going to like pout on it. Like Connor taught me, ‘Just be happy and move on with it.’
“It’s always great to play with Connor. I love playing with him. We get paired together a lot. …”
Added Watson, “It’s good playing with somebody I know and a great friend, so a good guy like him puts (me) to ease.”
Dunlap sophomore Nolan Eccles completed his two-day tourney with a 4-over 75, finishing tied for seventh. Eccles missed advancing to the state finals last season by two strokes, so he was extra motivated to come and show that he belonged in the tough field. He double-bogeyed 17 to card a back-9, 3-over 38.
“I knew I had to shoot under par to get into the top 5 or have a chance,” Eccles said. “My driver was off. My irons, I hit them way better than I did (Friday), but I just wasn’t making as many putts from outside of 15 (feet). … It wasn’t my best round, but I’ll take a top 10 (finish).
“My game is in a good spot right now to shoot low.”
Other Peoria-area finishers
Other Peoria-area Class 2A finishers include Morton senior Jacob Anderson (tied for 21st) and East Peoria junior Nicholas Unes (tied for 57th).
Illini West finished seventh in Class 1A with Illini Bluffs sophomore Crew Fortin finishing tied for 10th as the top local individual. IW freshman Nolan Murphy and Hall senior Landen Plym (tied for 13th), while Bureau Valley junior Wyatt Novotny (tied for 23rd) were also top 25 finishers.
In Class 3A, Washington junior Gavin Schreurs was tied for 24th and sophomore teammate Court Bohanan was tied for 59th.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA golf state finals: East Peoria golfer top five in Class 2A
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