The St. Anthony Bulldogs turned in a strong performance Saturday to defend its title in the Centralia Better Ball Invitational, played at Greenview Golf Course.

The duo of Luke Flaig/Thomas Chojnicki finished third overall with a 71 to help the Bulldogs finish with a team total of 220, two strokes ahead of O’Fallon’s 222. There were 14 teams in the field.

Jayden Rios and Jonathan Willenborg teamed to shoot 72 and tie for fourth overall, while the pair of Ryan Schultz/Michael Martelli finished with a 77.

“This is a wonderful event where we are able to build camaraderie and teamwork, as well as play another 18-hole event which will help prepare us for the postseason,” said St. Anthony coach Phil Zaccari. “The team played very well and was able to defeat the larger schools in the field.

“Luke and Thomas played steady all day,” Zaccari added. “They were able to feed off each other to place third. Jayden and Jonathan struggled a little at the beginning of their round, but then really got it going, recording birdies on four of the last six holes. Ryan and Michael also played well. Overall, it was a great weekend and confidence builder for us.”

The Bulldogs will return to action Saturday at the Taylorville Invitational.

Effingham’s Ava Boehm was the medalist, but the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs emerged as the winner in a triangular golf match Friday afternoon at Effingham Country Club.

The Lady Bulldogs finished with 171 team strokes, while Effingham had 178 and Teutopolis 221.

Ellie Wegman had the low round for St. Anthony, shooting 40. Macy Ludwig finished with 42, Reagan Westendorf 44 and Nina Hakman 45 to complete the team scoring. Also playing was Lauren Schwing (46), Morgan Schuette (48), Jessica Coffin (50), Cara Hakman (53) and Maddy Brummer (58).

Boehm fired a nine-hole score of 39 to lead the field and the Lady Hearts. Kennedy Collier shot 42, Morgan Krouse 46 and Jaelyn Boone 51 to complete the team score. Also playing was Anna Sigg (52), Madi Stortzum (50) and Anna Hirtzel (62).

Averie Bushue led the Lady Shoes with a 48, while Maggie Koester shot 57 and Abigail Wortman and Mollie Koester both finished at 58. Alaina Helmink (64) also played.

Effingham will compete Monday in the Apollo Conference Tournament at Lincoln.

Also on Monday, Teutopolis will host Sullivan.

St. Anthony will return to action Thursday when it hosts its own invitational.

Thomas Chojnicki finished in a tie for second individully and the St. Anthony Bulldogs finished second overall Friday in the 15-team Charleston Invitational.

The host Trojans finished as the team champion with a score of 322. The Bulldogs finished seven strokes behind at 329 and Rantoul was third at 330. Effingham tied for 10th at 358. The event was played at the Charleston Country Club.

Chojnicki fired an 18-hole total of 78 and tied with four others for the second lowest round of the day. Rantoul’s Trey VanWinkle shot 76 to claim medalist honors. St. Anthony’s Michael Martelli shot 79 to tie for third individually.

Also for the Bulldogs, Ryan Schultz shot 85 and Jonathan Willenborg 87 to complete the team scoring. Jayden Rios and Luke Flaig both played and shot 91.

“The team battled windy conditions on an unfamiliar course,” said St. Anthony coach Phil Zaccari. “Our underclassmen – sophomore Thomas Chojnicki and freshman Michael Martelli -- really stepped up and played well.”

Effingham will play Monday in the Apollo Conference Tournament at Lincoln.

St. Anthony will return to action next Saturday, competing in the Taylorville Invitational.

The St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs had three players shoot sub-40 rounds Thursday afternoon, en route to a win in a triangular golf match at Effingham Country Club.

Macy Ludwig, Ellie Wegman and Reagan Westendorf shot 37, 38 and 39 respectively, and Morgan Schuette added a nine-hole round of 41, helping St. Anthony finish with a 155 total. Effingham was runner-up with 176 and Mattoon was third at 207.

Also playing for the Lady Bulldogs was Nina Hakman (43) and Lauren Schwing (44).

Morgan Krouse had the low round of 40 for the Lady Hearts. Kennedy Collier finished with 41, followed by Ava Boehm at 43 and Anna Sigg 52 to complete the team scoring. Also participating was Jaelyn Boone (57) and Anna Hirtzel (59).

Effingham, St. Anthony and Teutopolis will face each other today (Friday) at Effingham Country Club.