MARION -- Despite barely cracking the top 10 individuals list, the Benton Rangers easily repeated as champions at the Marion Invitational boys golf tournament Wednesday at the Kokopelli Golf Club.
Benton's top finisher individually was Gehrig Wynn, who tied for 10th with Centralia's Caleb Urshan at 8-over par 79. But the Rangers used their depth and balance to total 324 and easily finish ahead of runner-up Mt. Carmel, which came in at 332.
Carbondale, West Frankfort and Herrin all tied for third at 333 at the 11-team tournament.
Benton's Brendan Luster and Robbie Moore both shot 80 and tied for 12th. Brad Hammond gave the Rangers their fourth score with an 85 that tied for 22nd. Although not part of the team score, Benton's Eldon Owens tied for 24th at 87.
Mt. Vernon's Zach Williams was the medalist with a 1-under 70 and his teammate Andy Ashby was alone in second at 75. As a team, however, the Rams placed ninth with a 357 total.
Herrin's Drew Ringel won a tiebreaker with Marion's Isaac Hammet and Massac County's Blake Goins for the third-place medal. All three shot 76.
Hammet's finish was the lone highlight for the host Wildcats. Hammet blistered the front nine with a 36, then grinded out a 40 on the back.
"That was his best 18-hole score of the year," said Marion coach Stan Stout. "He's starting to hone his game for the postseason."
Marion, which totaled 344, also had Brett Lewis and Dylan Coles shoot 89 and Dennis Johnson card 90 for the team total. Cooper Smith also played and shot 97.
Mt. Carmel's Blake Golden was sixth at 77. The rest of the top 10 was a three-way tie for seventh at 78 between Carbondale's Zach Pereira, Centralia's Will Clossen and West Frankfort's Bryson Dorris.
