HAYS – Hoisington’s Drew Nicholson (96) placed fifth and Noah Dolezal (97) finished sixth to spark the Cardinals (406) to the runner-up spot in Monday’s Hays regional and a 3A state golf berth at Hesston Golf Course. The Cardinals also counted scores by 10th-place Nolan Wilborn (104) and 17th-place Ayden Davis (109).

The Cardinals edged Phillipsburg (407) by one stroke for the second team berth. Hoisington improved 41 strokes over its previous 447 score May 3 at Smoky Hill Country Club. Dolezal and Davis each improved by 13 strokes over their May 3 scores. Phillipsburg (405) beat the Cardinals by 42 shots at the May 3 Hays tournament.

"I've preached for years that every shot counts because it sometimes comes down to that one shot. Phillipsburg beat Hoisington by 42 shots the first time, so I figured we had a 5% chance of beating them," said Hoisington coach Bruce Cooper. "What a nice surprise. Ayden Davis improved 13 shots and he told me, 'I'm going to play better.'

Hays-Thomas More Prep (395) placed first. Phillipsburg’s Ty Sides (80) earned medalist honors.

Cooper said the wind was light, but the pin placements were challenging at the tight Smoky Hill layout.

"The pins were in tough spots and the box boxes were stretched out," Cooper said. "I give credit to the guys. It was very tough playing conditions."

3A HAYS SMOKY HILL C.C. par 71

TEAM SCORES—1—Hays-Thomas More Prep, 395; 2—Hoisington, 406; 3—Phillipsburg, 407; 4—Ellsworth, 412; 5—Norton, 446; 6—Minneapolis, 499TOP 10 MEDALISTS—1—Ty Sides, Phillipsburg, 80 (42-38); 2—Landon Rozean, TMP 83 (43-40); 3—Jack Schulte, TMP, 92 (49-43); 4—Cole Birky, Russell, 94 (52-42); 5—Avery Haxton, Ellsworth, 96 (45-51); 5—Drew Nicholson, Hoisington, 96 (51-45); 7—Noah Dolezal, Hoisington, 97 (50-47); 8—Tyler Davis, Phillipsburg, 100 (48-50);9—Will Cravens, Ellsworth, 101 (50-51); 10—Stone Starbuck, Lyons, 104 (54-50); Nolan Wilborn, Hoisington 104 (50-54)