cBY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

NEWTON — It was time to gamble for Great Bend Panther Cole Streck. A top 10 state golf medal was at stake at Sand Creek Station Golf Course. 

Streck executed a perfect 310-yard drive onto the green at the tight, tree-lined 9th hole to set up a closing birdie and even-par 72 that clinched a tie for ninth place (151) at Tuesday's 5A state golf championship. Streck carded an eagle at No. 16 and birdied Nos. 10 and 18 for a red-hot 2-under-par 34 on his first nine holes. 

"I hit my driver really well that front nine," Streck said. "I got off the tee better today and hit my irons really well today. I'm pretty happy with the score, but I left a couple of shots out there today."

Streck said posting an even-par round at the 5A state tournament ranks near the top of his list. Streck played solidly from tee-to-green and let a few shots slip with a couple of three-putt greens.

"It's definitely one of my top rounds I've played this year," Streck said. "I'm happy I finished strong today."   

The Great Bend Panthers shot 656 (331-325) to finish sixth at the 5A state golf championship. The Panthers also counted scored by 33rd Brantley Baldwin, 163 (78-85); 50th Cal Dunekack, 170 (88-82) and 52nd Scott Heilman, 172 (86-86). Cayden Bouse finished 57th at 191 (101-90).

All the Panthers birdied holes Tuesday in perfect 80-degree weather blessed by light wind. Baldwin birdied Nos. 12 and 16. Dunekack birdied Nos. 4 and 16. Heilman birdied No. 5 and Bouse birdied No. 11.

Panther coach Travis McAtee was proud his team finished their season at the 5A state championship after a runner-up Western Athletic Conference finish.

"Getting to the second day of state golf is your team goal," McAtee said. "We came back, relaxed and posted a better score today. We improved six shots today. This group accomplished some goals that haven't been done for quite some time. There's the school's best golf team in almost 20 years."

McAtee said Streck enjoyed a perfect finish and will finish with the third-best stroke average in school history.

"Cole played some really good golf," McAtee said. "I loved the way he went for a low score today. He's enjoyed a strong high school career. It was good to see Cole win a couple tournament this year."

The Panthers were on target for a lower 18-hole opening score, but leading players Brantley Baldwin (78) and Cole Streck (79) finished with consecutive bogeys. 

Brantley birdied Nos. 4, 8 and 9 to play 4-over-par through 16 holes, before he bogeyed his final two holes to shoot 6-over-par 78. Streck birdied No. 15 and 16 to play 5-over through 16 holes, but he bogeyed his final two holes to shoot 7-over-par 79. Scott Heilman birdied No. 13. 

Great Bend (331) edged Goddard Eisenhower (335) for the sixth spot by also counting scores by Scott Heilman (86) and Cal Duneack (88). Winds gusted past 20 mph with the temperature hitting 72 degrees. 

Perennial 5A contender Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 607 (313-294) erased a four-shot deficit to edge St. Thomas Aquinas 609 (309-300) for the 5A team championship. Third-place Kapaun finisher Brent Reintjes birdied five consecutive holes on the back nine for an 8-under-par 64.

Mill Valley's Nick Mason 139 (71-68) birdied five holes to edge St. Thomas Aquinas' Michael Winslow 140 (71-69) by one stroke for the 5A individual championship.

5A STATE

NEWTON STONE CREEK STATION

1—KAPAUN-MT. CARMEL, 607 (313-294)—3—Brent Reintjes, 142 (78-64); 4—Asher Whitaker, 144 (73-71); 20—Noah Pirtle, 157 (79-78); 35—Quaid Oliver, 164 (83-81); 44—Gabe Grier, 168 (84-84); 55—Spencer Seachris, 183 (94-89)

2—ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, 609 (309-300)—2—Michael Winslow, 140 (71-69); 8—Connor Hanrahan, 150 (76-74), 27—Jeret Handley, 160 (80-80); 32—Myles King, 162 (85-77); 39—Mac Bishop, 165 (82-83); 47—Joe Vance, 169 (84-85);  

2—MAIZE SOUTH, 613 (313-300)—9—Taben Armstrong, 151 (76-75); 11—Grant Waggoner, 152 (80-72); 14—Layton Love, 154 (78-76); 20—Kyle Kasitz, 157 (80-77); 47—Spencer Goering, 169 (79-90); 56—Maverick Guinn, 188 (98-90)

4—BLUE VALLEY SW, 623 (314-309)—11—Andy Lisec, 151 (74-77); 19—Braden Loritz, 155 (78-77); 20—Braden Crank, 157 (80 -77); 30—Henry Reeg, 161 (84-77); 43—Matt Turpen, 166 (82-84); 47—Evan Johnson, 169 (86-83)

5—WICHITA CARROLL, 634 (317-317)—14—Noah Holtzman, 154 (80-74); 23—James Brennan, 159 (82-77); 30—Gray Murphy,  161 (76-85), 33—Colby Hays, 163 (79-84); 35—Pearce Lashley, 164 (82-82); 54—Jack Stuckey, 173 (86-87) 

6—GREAT BEND, 656 (331-325)—9—Cole Streck, 151 (79-72); 33—Brantley Baldwin, 163 (78-85); 50—Cal Dunekack, 170 (88-82); 52—Scott Heilman, 172 (86-86); 57—Cayden Bouse, 191 (101-90)

FAILED TO MAKE TEAM CUT

7—GODDARD EISENHOWER (335)—14—Carson Wright, 154 (75-79); 39—Emery Kaylor, 165 (83-82); 54—Jack Elliott, 88 (43-45), 75—Tyler Hardtafer, 97 (50-47); 56—Brody Scafe, 89 (42-47); 72—Parker Steven, 96 (47-49) 

8—LENEXA ST. JAMES (344)—27—Zach Clark, 160 (82-78); 44—T.J. Baker, 168 (81-87); 61—Luke Davis, 91 (47-44); 75—Will Ediger, 97 (44-53); 58—Rob Thomas, 90 (43-47); 91—Nick Jaworski, 108 (53-55) 

9—SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (346)—6—Alex Valdivia, 147 (76-71), 44—Ethan Rottinghaus, 168 (86-82), 61—Aiden Jones, 91 (45-46); 65—Tyler Peterson 93 (49-44), 75—Tanner Zerger 97 (45-52); 79—Kyler Ortiz, 98 (48-50) 

10—HAYS HIGH (354)—23—Jason Krannawitter, 159 (80-79); 52—Braeden Hoskins; 172 (86-86); 58—Weston Hopkins, 90 (41-49); 87—Ashton Hernandez, 102 (49-53); 79—Blake Buckles, 98 (47-51); 89—Landen Clark, 107 (50-57)

11—TOPEKA SEAMAN (357)—50—Gavin Wilhelm, 170 (86-84); Reid Cowan, 89 (41-48); 61—Jake Moss, 91 (45-46); 61—Zach Weir, 91 (46-45); 72—Tim Biggs, 96 (45-51); 75—Taylor Tenpenny, 97 (47-50)

12—BASEHOR-LINWOOD (359)—5—Joe Langstraat, 145 (73-72); 35—Wyatt Powell, 164 (86-78); 79—Jacob Lowe, 98 (43-55); 87—Carson Strah, 102 (50-52), 91—Jason Smith, 108 (56-52), 89—Brayden Strah, 107 (50-57) 

INDIVIDUALS

MILL VALLEY—1—Nick Mason, 139 (71-68); 58—Jack Weber, 90 (46-44), 67—Cody Geis, 94 (47-47)

ARKANSAS CITY—7—Trent Sutherland, 149 (77-72)

ANDOVER—13—James Hill, 153 (78-75)

ANDOVER CENTRAL—14—Austin Goodrum, 154 (80-74)

MAIZE—14—Grier Jones, 154 (79-75)

EMPORIA—23—Brooks Sauder, 159 (79-80); 27—Caden Massey, 160 (81-79)

VALLEY CENTER—23—Caden Bastian, 159 (81-78)

DESOTO—35—Nic Tranberger, 164 (84-80); 65—Jack Bakerink, 93 (46-47); 72—Hunter Meyer, 96 (45-51)

TOPEKA WEST—39—Myles Alonzo, 165 (85-80)

NEWTON—39—Caleb Koontz, 165 (85-80)

LEAVENWORTH—67—Jonan Barrette,  94 (44-50)

SALINA CENTRAL—70—Collister Ryan, 95 (56-49); 70—William Ryan; 95 (45-50) 

NBONNER SPRINGS—79—Caleb Schram, 98 (44-54)

KC PIPER—84—Titus Conrad, 99 (51-48)

PITTSBURG—85—Noah Niederklein, 101 (50-51)