HAYS — Great Bend High School’s golf team is making some serious strides this season.
Competing in the Bob Blazer/Hays High Invitational on Monday, the Panthers rose up and finished fifth in the team standings out of 12 varsity teams competing.
Dodge City won the invitational, carding a team total of 315 to beat second-place Hays (319). Hutchinson was well off the pace, shooting 334 for third, followed by Salina Central in fourth (347) and Great Bend (351).
Dodge City’s Zach Kirby fired a 73 to edge Salina South’s Ben Hargrave (75) by two strokes. Kaden Beilman of Hays finished third at 78.
Great Bend’s top score was recorded by Chance Haney, who shot a 40 on his second round of nine holes to finish at 82.
Matt Marshall finished at 88, Tanner Neeland checked in at 89, Cole Mulch finished with a 92, Raef Rein had a 93 and Wyatt Bayless totaled a 98.
The Panthers travel to Dodge City on Thursday for their next meet, starting at 3 p.m.

                                               — Mack McClure