SIKESTON -- For a second straight season, the Sikeston Bulldogs golf team will be sending a familiar pair of golfers to state competition.

Both senior Bill Green and junior Dakota Trevino qualified Tuesday afternoon during the Class 3, District 1 Tournament at the Crown Point Golf Club in Farmington.

Out of the 55 golfers there, Green improved on his seventh-place finish a year ago, finishing fourth with an 82.

As for Trevino, the defending district champion earned a sixth place finish while shooting an 84, twelve over par.

"I thought they shot really well considering the competition of district play and the weather," said Sikeston head coach Andy McGill. "It was probably about 45 degrees with hail and rain. So just to play in that type of environment and then getting fourth and sixth out of 55 players is something to say."

And while these two normally shoot in the 70's, the rough weather conditions played an obvious factor in their performance as each had a hard time adjusting to the cold on the front nine.

"I had a rough time starting out on the first nine holes," said Green. "I shot a 44 and then had to come around to the next nine and deal with the rain and cold weather."

"The weather was brutal," Trevino added. "I think I was more concentrated on how cold it was rather than how bad I was playing. But I think as time went on we kind of got our mind set right and started playing better."

However, as the day went on, Trevino and Green soon realized that their biggest hurdle wasn't the weather but rather themselves. And being that the duo had been varsity members since their freshmen year, they began relying on their experience as they approached the back nine.

"Really it was more a mental game than anything," said Green. "Even though I missed a few shots I knew that if I kept my mind set and continued to put good swings on the ball then I would make it to state."

And that's exactly what they did, cruising through the back nine to make their second consecutive trip to state.

"Dakota and Bill have been my top two guys all season," said McGill. "Even though they may have struggled early, I really think they stepped it up on the back nine and played like they had been all year long. Hopefully continue to play that way when they make it to state."

This year more than 100 golfers will compete in the state tournament which will be held on May 12-13 at the Rivercut Golf Club in Springfield. Last year Green placed 61st while Trevino ended up 72nd but this year they hope their experience will help carry them into the top 40.

"I think we will be more ready mentally wise because we pretty much know what to expect," said Trevino. "We know how the players are and we're not really pressured that much so if we just go out and play I think we'll do alright."

However, as a team the Bulldogs will have one more stop before their season ends as Tuesday they will travel to the Dalhousie Golf Course in Cape Girardeau to compete in the SEMO Conference Tournament.