The Ellinwood High School golf team has been a regular player at the state golf meet. So it should come as no surprise it is a place that Doug Kaiser looks to for local talent.

Gavin Vink is the latest to head a few miles to the west and golf for Barton Community College and coach Kaiser.

“Gavin is a good golfer,” Kaiser said. “He went to the state tournament every year he was in high school. That is something not too many kids can say.”

Vink was a three sport athlete at Ellinwood participating football, basketball and golf.

This past season he won the Central Prairie League title with an 80 at the Claflin Country Club then tied for regional medalist at the 2A golf tournament taking second in a playoff at the Stafford Country Club.

At the state meet at the Emporia Golf Course, Vink shot an 87 to finish 33rd. As a junior he was a key contributor to the Eagles team that took fourth at the state meet. He finished 18th at state on the Fort Hays Municipal Course shooting an 80.

Current Cougars Jared Oelke was state runner-up for Ellinwood with a 72 at the state meet in 2014 and Ryley Ney was 17th with a 79. Ellinwood was fourth as a team that season.