LARNED — With a young golf team, Larned High School head coach Toni Novotny was hopeful a home-course advantage would help the Indians.
But a brisk northerly wind that whipped past 40 mph negated any advantage the Indians might have hoped for. Overnight rain postponed most of Monday’s golf regionals, but the weather cleared enough to play the Larned Class 4A golf regional.
“It was tough conditions for everybody. I stressed they should be really patient because it would be challenging getting through 18 holes,” Novotny said. “I knew the scores would be high. I wanted them to play the best they could.”
Five-time medalist Dorothy Keenan shot 107 and teammate Madison Gleason shot 115 to qualify as individuals for Class 4A state tournament on Oct. 20 at Dub’s Dread Golf Club in Kansas City.
Larned finished fourth (462) behind state qualifiers Hays High (393), Goodland (449) and Hays-Thomas More Prep (453).
Also competing for Larned were Emma Ayre (119), Haley Skelton (121), Jaicee Walker (139) and Sierra Smith (150). The Indians return all of their varsity players.
“Overall, I was pleased with the girls,” Novotny said. “We’re a young team that learned a lot this season. They developed a lot of confidence during the year. We were close to qualifying. They realize they’ll have a good chance to qualify as a team next year.”
Keenan realized quickly battling the wind was a challenge. A windblown drive went out of bounds and the wind affected approach shots and putts.
“It was a tough day for everyone because it was the toughest conditions we’ve seen all year,” she said. “The wind was the toughest factor. It would blow your chips over the greens and I three putted four times.”
Keenan said coach Novotny offered good advice.
“She told us to be patient and take your time and play your own game,” she said. “After three holes, we knew it’s be a long day. You just wanted to make it to the next hole.”
Hays High’s Lexie Schaben was medalist with a 95, two strokes ahead of teammate Katie Brungardt (97) with Goodland’s Logan Perryman and Hays High’s Taylor DeBoer shooting 98s.
HIGH SCHOOL GOLF
Larned 4A Regional Tournament
GIRLS
Monday
Team scores
1. Hays High, 393; 2. Goodland, 449; 3. Hays-TMP, 453; 4. Larned, 462; 5. Colby, 467; 6. Pratt, 482; 7. Ulysses, 483; 8. Holcomb, 484.
Top 10 medalists
1. Lexie Schaben, Hays, 95; 2. Katie Brungardt, Hays, 97; 3. Logan Perryman, Goodland, 98 (won playoff); 4. Taylor DeBoer, Hays, 98; 5. Rhian Patterson, Hays, 103; 6. Gracen Becker, Holcomb, 104; 7. Emily Purvis, Goodland, 105; 8. Skylar Kistier, Ulysses, 106; 9. Dorothy Keenan, Larned, 107; 10. Elissa Jensen, Hays, 108.
State qualifiers — 12. Miranda Kern, Colby, 110; 14. Madison Gleason, Larned, 115.
