RUSSELL — Ryan Becker of Hoisington High School qualified for the Class 3A state golf tournament on Monday by placing sixth at a regional tournament.
Becker (89) won a two-hole playoff against John Balthazor of Southeast of Saline to capture sixth.
“Ryan making the state tournament just capped our season for us,” Hoisington head coach Bruce Cooper said. “We couldn’t be happier for him. He played smart golf. He is a smart player. He just lets a few holes hold him back sometimes.
“It is great for him to get to go to the state tournament.”
Becker, a junior, finished the front nine at 45, and was able to cut his back nine score down to 44.
The 3A state tournament will be held at Sugar Hills Golf Course in Goodland on Monday.
Zach Younger (99), Matt Stacey (102), Garret Schneider (126) and Spencer Rofmeister (141) also competed for Hoisington, which finished seventh as a team.
“I thought we did OK considering we had to leave our No. 3 kid at home,” Cooper said. “He shot his best round at practice before the tournament, but he got sick.
“We ended up playing a couple of freshmen, so it was some good experience for them.”

                                         — Kevin Price

CLASS 3A REGIONAL
GOLF TOURNAMENT

At Russell
Russell Municipal G.C.

Monday

BOYS

Team scores
1. TMP-Marian, 345; 2. Beloit, 368; 3. Russell, 376; 4. Sacred Heart, 389; 5. Southeast of Saline, 393; 6. Hoisington, 416; 7. Minneapolis, 433

Top 10 individuals
1. Rohr, TMP-Marian, 76; 2. Brown, Sacred Heart, 76; 3. Hecker, Russell, 81; 4. Schuckman, TMP-Marian, 85; 5. Palen, Beloit, 87; 6. Becker, Hoisington, 89; 7. Balthazor, Southeast of Saline, 89; 8. Yoxall, Minneapolis, 90; 9. Stoecklein, TMP-Marian, 91; 10. True, Beloit, 92.

Individual state qualifiers
Brown, Sacred Heart, 86; Hecker, Russell, 81; Becker, Hoisington, 89; Balthazor, Southeast of Saline, 89; Yoxall, Minneapolis, 90.

Hoisington results
Ryan Becker 45-44 — 89; Zach Younger 48-51 — 99; Matt Stacey 55-47 — 102; Garret Schneider 60-66 — 126; Spencer Rofmeister 78-63 — 141