It was tougher than they bargained for, but the Knoxville Boys Golf Squad has cleared the first hurdle to a return trip to the State Meet as the Panthers won the class 3A Sectional at Pine Knolls Country Club on Wednesday scoring a 312, which was just four strikes ahead of Winterset’s 316 and Newton’s 326, all three will be advancing to the District on Monday. Knoxville’s Evan Smith was meet medalist with a +2 (72), and Carson Uitermarkt placed two Panthers in the top five with a 77. Other scores were Kail Arkema carding a 78, Beau Leisure and 85, George Gilbert scored a 94 and Noah Keefer had a 104.