NEWTON — Great Bend’s Kelby Titus captured medalist honors to earn a return trip to the Class 5A state golf tournament at Newton’s Sand Creek Station. Titus is the first regional champion for Great Bend since Jake Klima in 1998.
Titus birdied the par No. 11 hole and the par 5 fifth hole. A key save came at No. 6.
“A key hole in sustaining the round was No. 6, where after a slightly errant tee shot, Kelby ran in 30 feet par putt,” said Great Bend coach Travis McAtee.
5A state is be played at Salina Municipal Golf Course May 22. Titus finished 13th in 5A last year at Emporia Golf Course.
The Panthers finished seventh (406). Other competing were Jared Divis, (104), Cal Marshall, (111), Isaac Panzer, (116), Keaton Sander, (121) and Aaron Stein, (128).
“Sand Creek is a fabulous golf course that hosts many prestigious events,” McAtee said. “It’s a privilege to get to play there. That being said, it is a tough golf course and most of our team struggled in scoring.”
Salina Central (339) won the a three-way tie for first place with Salina South and Maize.
5A, NEWTON, SAND CREEK STATION, par 72
TEAM SCORES—1—Salina Central 339; 2—Salina South 339; 3—Maize 339; 4—Valley Cen-ter 348; 5—Newton 387; 6—Wichita Heights 391; 7—Great Bend 406
TOP 10 MEDALISTS—1—Kelby Titus, 37-36—73; 2—Jacob Roth, , Maize, 42-34—76 (won playoff); 3—Brayden Neuschafer, SC, 35-41—76; 4—Josh Reed, SS, 78; 5—Tanner Pauls, Newton, 41-37—78; 6-Caden Cox, Maize, 41-40—81; 7—Reed Pierce, VC, 41-42—83; 8—Dylan Jensen, Heights, 42-43—85; 9—Parker Renz, SS, 41-45—86; 10—Parker Norton, SS, 43-43—86
GREAT BEND—1—Titus 75; 27-Jared Divis 52-52—104; 36—Cal Marshall, 54-57—111; 38—Isaac Panzer, 58-58—116; 38—Keaton Sander, 60-61—121; 39—Stein 62-66—128