2025 BOYS GOLF PREVIEW
 

CLASS 6A
 
2024 State Champion: Olathe West

2024 State Runner-up: Olathe Northwest 

2024 Individual State Champion: Maddix Shook, Garden City 
 
2024 Review: Tantalizingly close to a state championship a year earlier, Olathe West got the job done at Garden City’s Buffalo Dunes, making up the smallest of 18-hole deficits to post a two-shot victory. The Owls didn’t have the top four-man score on Day 2, but their 305 gave them a 583 total, two shots ahead of Day 1 leader and eventual runner-up Olathe Northwest. Myles Tarvin finished fifth individually and Bennett Warren tied for eighth for Olathe West, which won its first state title after being edged on a fifth-man tiebreaker at state in 2023 by Shawnee Mission East, which finished third in its bid to defend. Parker Boggins, who tied for 11^th for the Owls, posted their low score (74) on the final day to help them overcome Olathe Northwest, which got top-10 finishes from Blake Winter, Nick VanWyngard and Jake Conley. The Ravens followed their opening-day 277 with a 308, while SM East secured its trophy spot with Hudson Bennish’s sixth-place effort and a Day 2-best 301 team score. Blue Valley, Manhattan and Derby rounded out the top six teams while individually, Garden City’s Maddix Shook ended his high school career with a victory on his home course, carding rounds of 70 and 69 for a 3-under 139 total and one-shot victory over Ty Lasley of Blue Valley West.
 
2025 Contenders: It’s been a solid three-year run in Class 6A for Olathe West, which finished fourth at state in 2022 and second on a tiebreaker in 2023 before winning it all last year at Buffalo Dunes. The Owls move forward without all-state performer Myles Tarvin, who signed with UMKC, and top-20 state finishers Nick Nickloy and Blaine Sullivan. But Iowa signee Bennett Warren and Missouri Western State-bound Parker Boggins are back as state medalists along with Reece McClintock from the title-winning team. Olathe Northwest has made the 18-hole cut all four years of KSHSAA’s two-day state tournament format. The Ravens graduated Washburn signee and three-time state qualifier Jake Conley, but seniors Blake Winter and Nick Van Wyngarden were top-10 state finishers last spring who helped Northwest finish second as a team. Shawnee Mission East backed up its 2023 state title with a third-place finish. The Lancers were young, with rising junior Elliott Cowden earning All-6A first-team honors and sophomore Stuart Boulware receiving second team. Junior Hudson Bennish tied for sixth at state last spring. Blue Valley took heavy graduation hits with the graduation of Nebraska signee James Ackerman and Iowa’s Chance Rinkol, the 2021 state medalist. But Connor MacGee earned all-state honorable mention as a freshman from the Tigers’ fourth-place team in 6A. Manhattan has finished sixth and fifth in 6A the last two years. Senior Tate Reid, a past regional champion, led the Indians to the Centennial League title last spring. Derby faces some rebuilding after graduating an experienced group led by All-6A first-team selection Jaydon Carruthers. Michael Willey had a couple solid tournaments as a sophomore and returns after missing last season. Junior Brady Rapp, a Kansas commit, tied for sixth at state as a freshman for Blue Valley North. The Mustangs missed out on state last year, but Rapp and classmate Drew Krystyn got them off to a good start this season with a second-place finish at the Shawnee Mission East Invitational.
 
 

CLASS 5A
 
2024 State Champion: Kapaun Mt. Carmel 
 
2024 State Runner-up: St. James 
 
2024 Individual State Champion: Asher Whitaker, Kapaun Mt. Carmel 

2024 Review: Kapaun Mt. Carmel has enjoyed plenty of championship days in boys golf, winning a state-leading 34 team titles. The latest had a special twist for the Crusaders, as senior Asher Whitaker secured an elusive individual championship in dramatic fashion to lead Kapaun to a six-shot victory over runner-up St. James Academy at Newton’s Sand Creek. Whitaker rolled in a 36-foot birdie putt on the next-to-last hole to take the outright lead and parred the final hole for a two-shot victory over Maize South’s Laken Matthews, who opened the 36-hole tournament with a sizzling 7-under 65. Whitaker, who entered state as a three-time, top-4 finisher, claimed medalist honors with a two-day total of 3-under 141. Noah Pirtle (147), Carson Bachrodt (157) and Owen Young (157) also posted top-20 finishes as Kapaun built a four-shot lead on the opening day and went on to win its third Class 5A title in four years with a score of 601. St. James hung tough with top-8 efforts from Jake Kolich (144), Jacob Fratzel (149) and Josh Fratzel (150). Eisenhower, which topped Kapaun in the Wichita regional, took third as Carson Wright (149) and Tyler Hardtarfer (151) finished in the top 10. Matthews led Maize South to a fourth-place finish, while Emporia and Blue Valley Southwest also advanced to the final day.
 
2025 Contenders: After reclaiming the Class 5A title last season for its third crown in four years, Kapaun Mt. Carmel will try to overcome some key graduation losses in a bid to repeat. Individual champion Asher Whitaker, a Kansas Amateur and Kansas Junior Amateur winner as well, is playing collegiately at Oklahoma. Fellow All-5A first-team selection Noah Pirtle is teeing it up at NAIA member Park University. But senior Carson Bachrodt and junior Owen Young tied for 18^th to aid the Crusaders’ 2024 title run and another senior, Jason Brokaw, was just outside the top 20. St. James Academy had three of the top eight finishers at state last season and all return for the Thunder. Senior Jacob Fratzel earned All-5A first-team honors and senior Jake Kolich, who fired a school-record, opening-round 68 at state, was second team. Sophomore Josh Fratzel carded rounds of 76 and 74 in his state debut. Eisenhower graduated top-10 state finishers in Carson Wright and Tyler Hardtarfer, but Luke Springer leads a talented junior class, earning all-state second team after tying for 16^th at state. Maize South positioned itself to claim its first state title last season before settling for fourth. Senior Laken Matthews, an All-5A first-team pick, finished second in 5A after carding an opening-round 65. He fell back on Day 2, but was still tied for the lead with two holes to play. Senior Colten Hoover and junior Joe Binger were also state medal winners. Emporia returns senior Hudson Sauder, the reigning Centennial League medalist and 16^th place state finisher, from its fifth-place team. Sauder’s classmates, Will Walker and Nolan Jacob, also posted top-40 state finishes. Blue Valley Southwest got to the second day of state in large part to sophomore Beau Sheldon, who tied for 11^th. Senior Arjun Roy has also showed the ability to go low. Andover missed the 18-hole cut at state last May after standout Aidan Nguyen experienced back and neck discomfort and had to withdraw. Nguyen’s back issues have delayed the start of his senior season, but the Trojans feature quality depth led by senior Grant Hatzenbuehler, who was 10^th at state. Senior Joe Befort is a top returnee for St. Thomas Aquinas, which fell four shots shy of reaching the state tournament’s second day. Bishop Carroll is just two seasons removed from winning the 5A title. Junior Max Farber, who tied for third individually during the Golden Eagles’ championship run, added a 13^th-place finish last year to earn All-5A second team. Andover Central returns a likely title contender in junior Colt Farrow, who followed his fifth-place state finish as a freshman by taking fourth and earning All-5A first-team honors last May.

 

CLASS 4A
 
2024 State Champion: Wamego

2024 State Runner-up: McPherson 
 
2024 Individual State Champion: Blaise Hoover, McPherson 
 
2024 Review: Wamego had little margin for error in winning its first state boys golf title in 2023. But the Red Raiders took no prisoners in procuring back-to-back championships. Fueled by the superior depth of five top-10 finishers, Wamego shot a school-record, four-man score of 283 on the opening day of the Class 4A tournament, then extended their margin to 40 shots over runner-up and host McPherson with a winning score of 589 to repeat at Turkey Creek. Spencer Hecht led the way with a shared fourth-place finish, carding a 147, and Cash Foltz (148), Breckin Miller (149), Regan Kueker (149) and Talon White (150) added to the runaway victory. Hecht, who grabbed a top-10 finish at state two years ago as Wamego’s No. 6 player, delivered on the big stage once again, opening the tournament with a 69. That matched McPherson’s Blaise Hoover, who followed it with a 70 and a 139 total that gave him individual medalist honors by two shots over Circle’s Anderson Helmer, the 2023 4A champ. That margin was significant, as McPherson edged Circle 629-630 for second place. Bishop Miege, Chanute and Wellington also made the 18-hole team cut and completed the top six.

2025 Contenders: While title-winning streaks have become common in the smaller classifications, Wamego is the biggest school in the state with an opportunity for a boys golf three-peat this spring. The Red Raiders return half of their 2024 state squad that overwhelmed the 4A field for a 40-shot victory. All-4A first-teamers Cash Foltz and Talon White, and second-team pick Spencer Hecht have graduated, but junior Regan Kueker landed on the second team and senior Kaden Tyner received honorable mention. Kueker flashed his potential at state with a career-low 70 in the opening round, while returning sophomore Breckin Miller dropped his low round of the season on the same day with a 73. Last year’s 4A runner-up, McPherson, graduated individual medalist Blaise Hoover. But sophomore Hudson Krehbiel is back after turning in a solid state debut by tying for 11^th. Reclaiming state medalist honors will likely be on the mind of Circle junior Anderson Helmer, who won the 2023 title at Winfield’s Quail Ridge and finished second last year, two shots behind Hoover. Helmer’s classmate, Wyatt Sharp, tied for 16^th at state and solidifies the Thunderbirds’ second spot. Sophomore Griffin Bloemker will try to help Bishop Miege overcome the graduation loss of third-place state finisher Jack Winkler. Bloemker earned All-4A honorable mention and carded a low round of 74 at Hutchinson’s Rusty Hilst Invitational. Hayden returns to 4A this season with its top two individual state finishers in seniors James Kuta and Tagen Rodriguez. The duo helped the Wildcats finish fourth in 3A a year ago. Senior Derek Rausch had a good state tournament last year for Wellington, shooting an opening-round 74 en route to a tie for 11^th that enabled the Crusaders to post a top-6 team finish. Independence, second in 4A two seasons ago, is led by junior Ethan Small. Small earned All-4A first-team honors after posting his second top-10 state finish last season, tying for seventh. Senior Ty Deterding returns for Eudora after sharing 11^th place at state and earning All-4A second team. Concordia was in the 12-team state field last seasons and returns senior Luke Donovan, a top-20 individual finisher. Pratt senior Grant McAtee has been knocking on the door of a 4A title throughout his career, posting sixth-, third- and fourth-place finishes in three state appearances. He was on the All-4A second team last year along with Jackson Rumford, a Scott City senior who tied for 14^th at state while helping the Beavers qualify as a team.
 
 

CLASS 3A
 
2024 State Champion: Hesston 
 
2024 State Runner-up: Sabetha 
 
2024 Individual State Champion: Lunden Esterline, Collegiate 
 
2024 Review: After winning a rain-shortened Class 3A state tournament in 2022, Hesston experienced the thrill of sleeping on a Day 1 lead at state and delivering on Day 2. The Swathers fought through windy conditions over the final 18 holes at Emporia Municipal to pad their lead on closest pursuers Sabetha and Wichita Collegiate, posting a two-day total of 635 to win their second title in three years by eight shots. Palmer Welsh (157) and Grant Waterson (156) posted two rounds in the 70s for Hesston, which hit the tournament’s midpoint two shots in front of Collegiate after carding a 312. Sabetha, led by co-fifth place finisher Cole Grimes (153), climbed ahead of Collegiate in the final round, but couldn’t catch the Swathers, who outshot the runner-up by four shots both days. Collegiate produced the individual medalist, however, as Lunden Esterline capped an all-state freshman season by posting scores of 67 and 73 for shined in his state debut, posting scores of 67 and 73 for a 2-under 140 total and 10-shot victory over defending 3A champion Lane Workman of Santa Fe Trail. Hayden, Cheney and Frontenac advanced through the opening day and finished in the top six of the team competition.
 
2025 Contenders: Hesston ended a 17-year state golf title drought in 2022. Then after a third-place finish in 3A in 2023, the Swathers got their second championship in three years last May at Emporia Municipal. Half of that state squad returns, including senior Grant Waterson, one of two top-10 finishers for Hesston along with now-graduated All-3A second-teamer Palmer Welsh. Sophomore Carter Frey also finished in the top 30 for the Swathers. The list of teams eager to unseat them figures to start with Sabetha, state runner-up each of the last two years. The Bluejays graduated top-5 individual finisher Cole Grimes, but return two-time state medal winner and All-3A second-team pick Roman Scoby. Wichita Collegiate finished third at state with a pair of talented freshmen leading the way. Lunden Esterline won the 3A individual title by 10 shots, while Landon Langston took 12^th. Both will join the Spartans in early April. Junior Brennen Cofield returns for Iola, which qualified for state but missed the first-day cut. Cofield tied for 14^th and earned All-3A honorable mention. Hi-Plains League individual runner-up Noah Garcia returns for Lakin, which will try to return to state after qualifying last year. Garcia just missed an 3A individual medal last spring, finishing 21^st. A proven group of seniors return to lead their respective teams. Council Grove’s Drew Buchman became a three-time state placer and earned All-3A first team last season, tying for third after finishing fourth as a freshman and 14^th as a sophomore. Norton’s Eli Jones joined Buchman on the first team after tying for fifth at state and winning the Mid-Continent League championship. Lucas Prado helped Heritage Christian win the 3A title two seasons ago and posted his second straight top-10 state finish last season, tying for seventh. Prado was an All-3A second-team choice along with Kingman’s Kory Meireis, who won five tournaments last season and tied for 14^th at state. Garden Plain, moving up to 3A, is set up well for a big season. Seniors Tate Nelson and Max McGregor will lead the Owls after placing seventh and 17th, respectively, at the 2A state meet last year.
 

CLASS 2A
 
2024 State Champion: Sacred Heart 
 
2024 State Runner-up: Ellinwood
 
2024 Individual State Champion: Drew Heinz, Ellinwood 
 
2024 Review: Sacred Heart added another chapter to its storied golf history, running its state championship streak to nine. The Knights took control in Day 1 of the 2A tournament at Dodge City’s Mariah Hills, shooting a season-best 293 to open up a 38-stroke lead. They ended up clearing second-place Ellinwood by 57 strokes with a two-day total of 612. Sacred Heart placed three in the top five and four in the top 10, led by senior Michael Matteucci’s runner-up showing. Ellinwood’s second-place effort was led by individual champion Drew Heinz, who broke through for his title as a senior after two previous runner-up finishes. Heinz shot a two-day total of 148. Matteucci was joined in the top five by Sacred Heart teammates Luke Newell and Walker Tuttle. Newell finished with a 150 to take third and Tuttle had a 153 to tie with Oakley’s Easton Fink for fourth. Hunter Newell placed 10th for the Knights with a 161. Cair Paravel, led by Rich Helmbold’s sixth-place finish, took third as a team with a 682. Hutchinson Trinity, Hoxie and Garden Plain also made it to the second day of the state tournament. 
 
2025 Contenders: Sacred Heart will look to push its historic title streak into double digits, but the Knights will have to reload in order to do so. Michael Matteucci, last year’s runner-up and the state champ in 2023, has moved on to Washburn and the Knights also graduated three others  – Walker Tuttle, Hunter Newell and Jason Marrs. However, the cupboard isn’t bare, with Luke Newell back after finishing third at state for three straight seasons. Sophomore Dominic Matteucci also returns after a strong freshman season that finished with a 12th-place showing at state. And the Knights figure to have some promising newcomers who have come up the pipeline. Ellinwood graduated individual champion Drew Heinz and 15th-place medalist Mason Moore off last year’s runner-up team. Senior Braden Lewis,  junior Austin Brack and sophomore Luke Heinz played in last year’s state tournament for the Eagles. Cair Paravel lost sixth-place medalist Rich Helmbold to graduation but returned three off its third-place team from a year ago – senior Jase Pavlik and juniors Caleb Cleverdon and Luke Budden. Hutchinson Trinity could be poised to contend with a pair of state medalists returning in senior Lincoln Barnes and sophomore Miles Blaylock. Barnes took 11th at state last year while Blaylock was 19th. Trinity lost just one senior off its fourth-place team at state. Senior Noah Dowell is back for Hoxie after an eighth-place finish last year. Senior Charlie Foote finished just outside medal position in 22nd last season for the Indians, who didn’t have any seniors on last year’s fifth-place team. Four of the last  year’s top-10 finishers at state return in Newell (third), Oakley’s Easton Fink (tied for fourth), Hoxie’s Dowell (eighth) and Valley Heights’ Jayden Dewalt (ninth). Another returning top-20 placer is Hillsboro’s Lincoln Wichert.
 

CLASS 1A
 
2024 State Champion: South Gray 
 
2024 State Runner-up: Hutchinson Central Christian 
 
2024 Individual State Champion: Gavin Wahl, South Gray 
 
2024 Review: South Gray defended its Class 1A title in dominant fashion, winning the Class 1A boys state tournament at Hesston Golf Course by 57 shots over Hutchinson Central Christian. The Rebels posted four-man scores of 309 and 301 in the two-day tournament for a 610 total. It was a clean sweep for South Gray, with sophomore Gavin Wahl winning the individual title by a stroke over Central Christian’s Cael Kooiman. Wahl birdied the 18th hole to clinch his title. South Gray was powered by the trio of Gavin and Cameron Wahl and Jaxon Koehn throughout a tremendous season. Cameron Wahl finished third at state while Koehn took fifth to close out his high school career. Daxton Hendrickson added a 15th-place effort for the Rebels. Kooiman helped lead Central Christian to a second-place team showing. Ryland Kooiman and Nathan Reed also had top-15 finishes for the Cougars. Bodie Higgins tied for fifth place individually to help Elkhart take third place. Washington County, Ashland and Onaga all made the second day of the tournament. 
 
2025 Contenders: South Gray should be well equipped to go for the 3-peat. The Rebels lose a senior leader in now-graduated Jaxon Koehn, but the Wahl brothers are back to add to their already outstanding careers. Junior Gavin Wahl is the reigning individual champion while senior Cameron Wahl took third at state last year. The Rebels have another returning state placer in Daxton Hendrickson, who took 15th last year as a freshman. Senior Zac Hendrickson and sophomore Kyler Walker give the Rebels solid depth. Hutchinson Central Christian will look to end the Rebels’ reign after finishing runner-up last year. The Cougars bring back three top-15 placers from last year. Cael Kooiman was the individual state runner-up last year as a freshman. He finished just one shot back of champion Gavin Wahl. Seniors Ry Kooiman and Nate Reed are both three-time top-15 placers for the Cougars. Ry Kooiman was the 2022 individual state champion as a freshman. Elkhart placed third last year, led by a fifth-place state showing from Bodie Higgins, now a senior. Other key returners for the Wildcats include seniors Gavin Schumacher and Murray Houtz. Senior Grayson Votipka is the top returner for Washington County, who took fourth at state last year. Votipka finished just outside of medal position in 22nd last season. Senior Cord Kellenberger is back to lead Ashland after a ninth-place showing at state. The Bluejays took fifth as a team. Onaga, sixth last season, returns a top-25 state finisher in Graham Valburg. Solomon’s Spencer Coup is one of the top golfers in 1A. Coup was the 2023 state champion after taking runner-up honors in 2022. He tied for ninth last year as a junior. Kiowa County’s Sawyer Campbell is another contender, coming off a fifth-place state showing last season as a sophomore. Other returning top-15 state finishers include Bishop Seabury’s Jace Hoffman (seventh), Rawlins County’s Jeb Kastens (11th), Centre’s Easton Glessner (12th), Goessel’s Levi Schrag (14th) and Greeley County’s Lincoln Shafer (tied for 15th).
 

SAND GREENS
 
2024 State Champion: Lakeside
 
2024 State Runner-up: Beloit-St. John's 
 
2024 Individual State Champion: Jace Cunningham, Lakeside
 
2024 Review: Lakeside continued its dominance of Sand Greens golf, capturing its fourth straight team championship. The Knights swept the teams and individual titles again. Lakeside’s Jace Cunningham defended his individual title, shooting a 4-under 66 to win state by eight strokes at Tipton Oaks Golf Course. Lakeside cleared second-place Beloit-St. John’s by 35 strokes. Three other Knights finished in the top 10  – Gabe Smith (sixth), Tatum Miller (ninth) and Ian Kresin (10th). Beloit-St. John’s Chris LaRocque tied for seventh to lead the Blujays runner-up showing. Riley County took third as a team. Rock Hills’ Ethan Wirth and Riley County’s Harvey Lister shared runner-up honors with 74s. 2025 Contenders: Lakeside will be strong favorites to continue its reign and capture its fifth straight championship. Senior Jace Cunningham will go for a 3-peat for the individual title. The Knights lost just one senior, Ian Kresin. Gabe Smith and Tatum Miller are back after placing sixth and ninth last season. Beloit-St. John’s took second last year but graduated its top two players in Chris LaRocque and Jacob Winkler. Rock Hills’ Ethan Wirth and Riley County's Harvey Lister will look to challenge Cunningham for the individual title after tying for second at state last year.  The Sand Greens tournament will be held at Cottonwood Falls Country Club.