FORT WAYNE – Defeating the Bishop Dwenger golf team in a three-way meet May 26 may have been the worst thing Canterbury and Homestead could have done.

The loss motivated the Saints so much, they shot a 294 to capture the South Side Sectional title at Brookwood Golf Club on Friday, despite cold, windy and rainy conditions. Dwenger’s 294 is believed to be a team record.

“Playing here really helped us. We play this golf course a lot and have had a lot of success here,” said Saints coach Dave Scudder, whose team won the SAC tournament at Brookwood.

“And getting beat by Canterbury and Homestead a week ago, that put a little fire in our stomachs, too, to show them we weren’t quite the same team as then.”

Drake Eifert shot a tournament-best 1-under 71 to pace the Saints. He went 3-under 33 on the back nine.

“I just got lucky and made a few putts on the back,” Eifert said with a smile.

The Saints have one senior, Carter Eifert – who tied for fifth place with a 75 – and advanced to Thursday’s regional at Orchard Ridge Country Club.

“It’s obviously the first time we’ve shot this low, but hopefully it’s not the last,” Drake Eifert said. “You can’t expect to do that every time … but just about all of us played really good.”

Jake Leonard had a 73 for the Saints, and Spencer Gillig added a 75.

John Hope’s 78, the sectional’s 12th best score, wasn’t even good enough to count for Dwenger.

“I’m very surprised the scores were as good as they were today,” Scudder said. “Not necessarily (just) from our kids, but from everybody. You know how bad the conditions were.

“It was maybe 50 degrees and windy and rainy, and to shoot 294, that’s unbelievable.”

Canterbury finished second with a 301, and Homestead grabbed the final regional berth with a 313, two strokes better than Concordia.

Canterbury was paced by Trevor Uhl’s 73.

“They weren’t the best conditions today, but they were definitely (prime for scoring),” Uhl said. “The rain was off and on, but it got better throughout the day. The wind was somewhat of a challenge because it was gusting, but the pins were in good places.

“Like always, we’re going to go for a win. But we’ll take the second place, and we’ll go on to regionals and continue the journey.”

The Cavaliers’ Patrick O’Reilly had a 74, and Austin West shot a 75. Benji Stroup and Ethan Brinkman both carded 79s.

Homestead was led by Saurabh Sharma’s 77. Kyle Davis shot a 78. Gunnar Smith and Chris Eigner had 79s.

Individual berths for regionals were captured by Robert Wray and Dan Wert of Concordia, who shot 75 and 77, respectively.

Northrop’s Aaron Hohman also moved on with a 77.

jcohn@jg.net