SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
The high school boys golf season concluded on Wednesday with six sites crowning individual and team titles. The Hutch Post-area was well-represented, as Central Christian School claimed the 1A team title, while Hesston's Grant Waterson claimed the Class 3A individual championship.
Class 1A
Central Christian School clinched its second boys state golf championship in program history, capturing the Class 1A title Tuesday at Mariah Hills Golf Course in Dodge City. The Cougars posted a two-day team total of 633 (318-315), pulling away from runner-up South Gray by 17 strokes.
It marked Central Christian’s first state crown since 2022.
Ryland Kooiman led the charge for the Cougars with a 148 (73-75), tying for third place individually. His younger brother, Cael Kooiman, followed closely in seventh at 150 (77-73), while Nathan Reed joined them in the top 10 with a tie for eighth at 159 (82-77).
Tyler Reed added a 176 (86-90) for the team score, and Brody Froese (118-102—220) and Tarren Scripsick (116-112—228) rounded out the lineup.
South Gray’s Gavin Wahl dominated the individual leaderboard, carding back-to-back 68s for a 136 total, winning by nine strokes. Elkhart’s Bodie Higgins (67-78—145) placed second.
Elkhart (320-343—663) finished third in the team standings, followed by Washington County, South Central and Onaga.
Class 2A
Noah Dowell of Hoxie fired rounds of 68 and 72 to win medalist honors at the Class 2A championship held at Turkey Creek Golf Course in McPherson. Dowell finished at 2-under-par 140, edging Oakley’s Easton Fink by two strokes.
Trinity Catholic's Tyler Casebolt led area performances with a 161 (82-79), good for 14th place. Teammates Miles Blaylock (81-84—165) and Lincoln Barnes (84-82—166) also posted top-30 finishes, helping the Celtics close their season strong.
Sterling’s Cameron Morris tied for 18th place after carding a 163 (84-79), bouncing back from a rough opening round with a strong Day 2 performance.
Salina Sacred Heart captured the team championship with a combined score of 611 (311-300), pulling away from second-place Syracuse (301-327—628). Hoxie (322-321—643) took third, followed by Cair Paravel, St. Marys Colgan, and Hill City in the top six.
Class 3A
Hesston's Grant Waterson captured the individual championship in Class 3A held Tuesday and Wednesday at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City.
Waterson opened with a 1-under-par 71 and followed with a 76 in Wednesday’s final round for a 36-hole total of 147, claiming a two-stroke victory over Connor Newman of Humboldt and Drew Buchman of Council Grove, who tied for second at 149.
Hesston’s team did not factor into the top six of the standings, but Austin Penner also contributed with a tie for 29th place, finishing with a 167 (82-85) on the par-72 course.
Wichita Collegiate took home the team title, posting a two-day total of 644 (315-329) to edge Wichita-Trinity Academy by five strokes. Trinity Academy shot 649 (316-333), while Sabetha (326-330—656) placed third.
Columbus’ Landon Langston and Perry-Lecompton’s Marius Carlsen tied for fourth individually at 151, while a trio of golfers tied for sixth at 153.
Class 4A
Wamego edged Topeka-Hayden by three strokes to capture the Class 4A state title, held Tuesday and Wednesday at Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton.
Wamego shot a two-day team total of 621 (309-312), led by Regan Kueker’s runner-up individual finish at 143 (70-73). Topeka-Hayden (316-308—624) and Circle (331-324—655) rounded out the top three team placings.
Pratt's Grant McAtee delivered a standout performance for south-central Kansas, finishing third individually with a two-day total of 151 (79-72) on the par-72 course. His final-round 72 was the second-lowest score of the day.
Buhler's Drew DeMeyer earned a top-10 finish, placing eighth at 155 (77-78). He helped the Crusaders take sixth in the team standings with a combined score of 665 (332-333). Teammate Zach Chance tied for 19th with a 162 (80-82), while Nick Chance finished in a tie for 40th at 170 (82-88).
Other Buhler competitors included Isaiah Heredia (102-85—187), Jace Heimerman (93-102—195), and James Dingler (96-116—212).
Independence’s Ethan Small claimed medalist honors, finishing at 2-under-par 142 (69-73), three strokes ahead of the field.