For Wright City golfer Griffin Tinker, his freshman year was about growing up quickly.Cast into the Wildcats’ No. 1 role shortly after the season started, he was forced to take on a leadership role generally transitioned into by upperclasswoman.But with Wright City having no seniors and the door for talent being wide open, Tinker seized the opportunity. He was named to the Eastern Missouri All-Conference team after shooting among the Top 5 at the league tournament last week.“He accepted it and just plays his game,” said Coach Bill Schaffer. “He handles the position well, because he doesn’t change according to the other guys he plays with.”Tinker’s consistency has been welcome on a youth-laden team that was still developing during Monday’s Class 2 District 3 Tournament at Innsbrook. With three juniors, one sophomore and five freshmen on board, Schaffer is eying the future.“They’ve developed pretty well,” said Schaffer. “In the beginning, we only had one kid who’d played more than one varsity match. Now we have seven.”Schaffer says scores were strikingly high during the district meet, including for Tinker. He shot a 109, still only missing the cut for sectionals by one stroke.“I was very pleased with Griffin,” said Schaffer. “He shot a solid round and was the only freshman in the upper half at all. Most of those guys were seniors.”Daymond Dollens of Centralia won the tournament by a remarkable eight strokes, with only two others finishing in the 70s at 79.“I don’t have a clue why the scores were so high yesterday,” said Schaffer. “Even some of the best were back several strokes.”For Wright City, freshman Bear Lauber carded a 133 in the No. 2 spot.The Wildcats’ No. 3 golfer had to withdraw for health reasons.In the fourth spot, freshman Zach Stewart recorded a 163, while junior Jake Murri followed with a 155.“I think that’s where we’ll see them for the time being,” said Schaffer, of the team’s order of play. “It’ll just be a matter of who develops between now and next year.”

Wright City freshman Griffin Tinker shot a 109 during the Class 2 District 3 tournament on Monday to finish one stroke shy of qualifying for sectionals.

Derrick Forsythe Photo.