Both Erskine and Eagle Glen golf courses served as great stages for golf drama Monday.

At Erskine, Elkhart won that city’s first golf sectional championship in 13 years with a narrow two-stroke win over Trinity. It was even closer at Eagle Glen, where Warsaw takes the team title over Plymouth based on the score of each team’s fifth player.

Both squads had to handle the weight of expectations, as both have been ranked in the top-20 during the season. The Lions used a 70 from freshman Ben Divido and a 73 from senior Steven Webb on their way to a team score of 297.  That’s the lowest score to win a sectional at Erskine since a 291 by Marian in 2008.

“They’ve done this all season,” lauded Elkhart coach Todd King. “The work they have put in has led to this….it’s all come to fruition and I’m really proud of them.”

The Lions needed to save every stroke against a young, hungry Trinity squad. Dane Sweikar grabbed medalist honors, firing a 69, while Jackson Cressy came in at 72 and Titan teammate Nathan Palmer carded his first career hole-in-one.

“The thing that saved me the most today was my short game,” said Sweikar, who is only a sophomore. “Coming down to the last couple holes, I was striking really bad off the tee, but all through the round my chips and putts were there. I was able to get up and down almost every single time.”

Saint Joseph also qualifies for the regional with a team score of 306.

Meanwhile, in Columbia City, Warsaw and Plymouth tied through the first four players with a team score of 313, but an 88 from the Tigers’ fifth man, Jacob Timmerman made the difference for the team title. Culver Academies finished third at 320.

Plymouth looked as though it would rally on the 18th hole, with a birdie by Ben Nguyen. But a remarkable eagle from Warsaw’s Isaac Summers leveled the two teams, leading to the tie-breaking criteria.

Northfield’s Tyson Baer was medalist with a 70, while Warsaw’s Breckin Christner finished second with a 74, one stroke bettter than Plymouth’s Mac Holm.

All qualifying teams individuals head to regionals on Thursday. The Erskine Sectional feeds into Sandy Pines, hosted by Lake Central, while the Eagle Glen sectional qualifiers move on to Stonehenge in Warsaw.