MADISON — With their car keys in hand and postseason fates secure, Decatur High teammates Bill Nabors and Andrew Lowry walked toward the parking lot the same time Austin’s Zach Gourgeot made his way to the first tee Monday.

Nabors and Lowry each carded an even-par 72 to help the Red Raiders finish third in the Class 6A sectional at Sunset Landing, but it took Gourgeot two extra holes to earn a spot in next week’s sub-state round.

The Austin senior birdied the 503-yard, par-5 second hole, besting Grissom’s Hogan Vaughn in a playoff to advance individually. The Black Bears, who shot a team total of 341, failed to qualify for sub-state play.

“It kind of breathes a little life back into me, considering I missed a couple 3- or 4-footers at 17 and 18. So, getting to the playoff and just having another chance to keep my season alive was great,” said Gourgeot, who shot a 4-over 76 after 18 holes.

As expected, the Decatur High boys performed well, but they finished two strokes behind second-place Bob Jones and 15 behind sectional champion Huntsville. The Crimson Panthers fired a 285, which course officials said was one of the lowest tournament scores ever recorded in Sunset Landing history.

Medalist honors went to Huntsville’s Phillip Brol with a 4-under 68. Decatur got a 74 from Braxton Rainey, while Mac Hennessy followed with an 82. Hunter Shelley carded an 85 for the Red Raiders.

The four lowest-scoring teams advance to next week’s sub-state round at the Goose Pond facility in Scottsboro. Joining Huntsville, Bob Jones and Decatur will be Hewitt-Trussville (308).

“It’s all about qualifying for the next round at this point, and I’m glad we were able to come out and do that,” Decatur golf coach Wes Stephenson said. “We knew we just wanted to be in that top four and get a chance to play next Monday. We’ll see what happens then.”

Nabors and Lowry both overcame inconsistent play to help get their team one step closer to a state championship.

“Everything went great for me on the first nine,” Nabors said, “and everything on the back nine didn’t.”

“Same here,” added Lowry. “All we wanted to do was qualify for the next round. I’m glad we accomplished that.”

Gourgeot ended the playoff on the same hole where his troubles began. After a par on No. 1, Gourgeot missed a two-footer for birdie on the second hole, and he pushed another putt about the same length past the cup on the par-3 third.

After Grissom’s Vaughn missed his birdie attempt from the fringe on No. 2, Gourgeot said immediately thought about his missed putt at the same hole earlier.

“It was hard not to think about that because I putted absolutely horrendous all day long, but I knew I just had to try to block it out,” he said. “Those first 18 holes didn’t matter once we got into the playoff.”

Gourgeot made six straight pars to begin his round, but he missed his first green in regulation on the par-4 seventh and finished with a bogey.

Kevin Hines shot 87 for Austin, followed by Trent Shell’s 88 and Eric Voss’ 90.

Grissom finished fifth with a 310, followed by Clay-Chalkville (311), Florence (317), Oxford (321) and Sparkman (325). Pinson Valley and Shades Valley each shot 326, and Austin (341), Gadsden City (341), Hazel Green (348) and Buckhorn (349) rounded out the 15-team field.

Girls 6A sectionals: Sloan Davis and Kristin Askew each carded a 75 and teammate Francie Caradine had a 79 as Austin High set a school record with a 229 winning the Class 6A golf sectional at the Huntsville Municipal Golf Course on Monday.

“I am really proud of my girls,” Austin golf coach Kevin Shannon said. “So far, we have achieved all of our goals that we set at the beginning of the golf season. Today was great. We will enjoy it, and tomorrow we will start preparing for sub-state in Gadsden.”

Finishing second was Bob Jones High with 252, one stroke ahead of Huntsville. Fourth was Grissom with a 263.

Decatur shot a 302 and won’t be advancing, however, Red Raiders’ Kate Graham fired a 94 and qualified individually.

Decatur’s other golfers were Catherine Picou with a 102, Claire Fisher with a 106 and Haley Wenzler also with a 106.

Class 6A sub-state play is set for Gadsden’s Twin Bridges Golf Course on May 5.