Tigers struggle on tough course

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Fort Scott High School's golf team struggled on a tough course here Monday and finished 11th in the 12-team field at the Kansas Class 4A State Golf Tournament at Dub's Dread Golf Course.

"We were glad to play in the State tournament, disappointed in our results, but determined to make a return trip next year and do better," Fort Scott head coach Ken Klassen said. "The course is a very demanding course. Cole Murrin, a former Fort Scott High golfer and now playing golf for Pittsburg State, says this course is the most difficult he has ever played.

"Still, the course was set up in a more 'user friendly' way for the state high school tournament, and I had high expectations we would play well as a team. However, with our youthful nervousness and inexperience, we simply did not play at the level we have come to expect this year."

The Tigers posted a four-man score of 364, a season high, finishing ahead of only Abilene. Paola, the champion of the Regional from which Fort Scott qualified, finished 10th at 358.

Host school Kansas City-Piper won its fifth State title -- its first since 1992 -- with a score of 312 beating out Tonganoxie, last year's runner-up, by one stroke. Holton was third at 323. Defending champion Topeka Hayden was unable to qualify as a team this season.

Coffeyville was the highest-finishing Southeast Kansas League school, shooting 332 to finish fourth. Iola shot 345 to place seventh.

Fort Scott's best individual was freshman Conner Antonetti, who shot 41 on the front nine and 43 on the back for a total of 84. He tied for 29th place with nine others.

"Conner was a bright spot," Klassen said. "As a freshman, he finished not far out of the medals, shooting an 84 on a day when 81 medaled. He hit the ball straight, maintained his composure through some difficult holes, and played at a level I've seldom seen in a freshman. He'll work this summer to improve even more, and I expect him to definitely be in the mix for a State medal next year."

Sophomore Channing Nielson was Fort Scott's next-best golfer, shooting 43-44--87 to tie for 47th. Classmate Jonathan Allen followed at 48-48--96. Sophomore Tucker Horn finished at 44-53--97. Junior Dane Ramsey came in at 48-55--103 and senior Baker Weilert shot 47-59--106.

Tonganoxie senior Colby Yates won his school's first golf title of any sort by finishing well under par at 36-33--69. Yates won his fourth State medal, finishing tied for 14th in 2009, second in 2010 and third last year. Piper senior Parker Miller won his first State medal with a second-place 38-35--73. Teammate Charlie Rinehart, a junior, won a playoff and placed third at 34-40--74. Sophomore Michael Reese of Larned (37-37) was fourth. Coffeyville's Brett Yeubanks was the SEK's best scorer, tying for 12th place at 41-39--80.