CRESWELL — Prairie City’s Sawyer Quinton has established himself as one of the top prep golfers in the state and one of the best ever to come out of Grant County.

The sophomore placed seventh out of 75 golfers at the OSAA 3A/2A/1A boys golf tournament at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell on May 13 and 14. Last season, as a freshman, he left the state golf tournament with a 25th place finish.

Quinton shot a 76 on the tournament’s opening day, which put him in fifth place overall. An 84 on the second day left him with an overall score of 160 and a seventh-place finish.

Quinton edged out three other golfers who tied at 161 while falling a mere three strokes short of sixth place and four strokes short of fifth. Eventual state champion Davis Hartwell of Crosspoint Christian shot a 141 overall, besting the state runner-up by a full 10 strokes.

Quinton was also named to the all-tournament team following the state competition.

This year’s seventh-place finish is a notable improvement for Quinton, who placed 25th a year ago. Prairie City head golf coach Bob Quinton, who is also Sawyer’s father, said there are a few factors that played into his son’s much improved 2024 finish.

“He has matured as a person and player. … He shakes off a bad shot or hole and moves on, not worrying about what he can’t have back,” the elder Quinton said. “With it being his second year at state, he was definitely more comfortable.”

Bob said Sawyer was disappointed that he didn’t leave with a state championship, but that is just the competitor in him. After Sawyer truly realized what he’d accomplished, that disappointment turned into satisfaction.

“Once it settled in that he was seventh in the state out of over 315 golfers (in 1A, 2A and 3A) and that he made the all-tournament team, I think he was happy,” Bob said. “He did think if he could have had a few holes over, he would have picked up maybe 3, 4 strokes.”

Sawyer’s seventh-place finish is the best a Grant County golfer has done at the state tournament since Mike Taylor’s tie for fourth place in 1969.

“Not sure if I remember any other top 10 finishes by a Grant County High School golfer since then,” Bob said. “He’s definitely looking forward to next year.”