POPLAR GROVE – For his third straight trip to the state golf meet, Sterling senior Andrew Blackburn will have some company … just not as much as in his previous two.

The Golden Warriors fell seven strokes short of making their third consecutive appearance at the 2A state meet as a team, but Blackburn will be joined this weekend at Normal's Weibring Golf Club by teammate Ryan Hurley.

Blackburn fired a 7-over-par 79, good for runner-up individually at the Class 2A Belvidere North Sectional on Monday at Timber Pointe Golf Club. The two-time regional medalist admitted to mixed emotions after his round.