For the first time in school history, the Effingham Lady Hearts golf team is headed to the state tournament.

The Lady Hearts earned a trip Monday by placing third in the Mt. Carmel Class 1A Sectional, played at the West Berwick Golf Course in Mt. Carmel.

The host Lady Aces claimed the sectional championship with a team score of 307 strokes. Alton Marquette was runner-up with 333 and EHS claimed the third spot with a score of 341, just two strokes ahead of St. Anthony, who finished fourth at 343.

The Lady Bulldogs did qualify three individual golfers – Macy Ludwig, Reagan Westendorf and Lauren Schwing.

Kennedy Collier led the Lady Hearts with an 18-hole score of 79. Ava Boehm shot 82, Morgan Krouse 85 and Anna Sigg 95 to complete the team scoring. Also playing was Jaelyn Boone (104) and Anna Hirtzel (116).

For St. Anthony, Ludwig, Westendorf and Schwing all shot 84. The top 10 golfers, not on one of the top three teams, also qualified to play in the state tournament.

The ISHA State Tournament will be played Friday and Saturday at the Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur.