MAYETTA — For a moment, Drew Krystyn could only think about the putts that got away. 

Two chances from five feet. Two opportunities to seize the Class 6A state championship outright. Two misses. 

But if Wednesday proved anything at Firekeeper Golf Course, it was that the Blue Valley North senior wasn’t going to let a frustrating finish define his final state tournament. 

Instead, Krystyn turned disappointment into redemption. 

After missing a pair of short putts over the final two holes of regulation, Krystyn regrouped and delivered when it mattered most, draining back-to-back birdie putts in a playoff to outlast Manhattan sophomore Charlie Haney and capture the Class 6A state golf championship Wednesday. 

“It feels great,” Krystyn said. “I have been to state all four years and I have never gotten it done, so to finally get the win feels great. I played solid all week. Missed a couple putts coming in, but to make up for it in the playoff means a lot.” 

Krystyn finished the two-day tournament at 4-under-par 140 after rounds of 69 and 71, tied with Haney (70-70—140) atop the leaderboard. Shawnee Mission East junior Stuart Boulware, who led after day one, finished one stroke back in third at 141 after a final-round 73. 

 

The title came down to grit — and a mental reset. 

Krystyn entered the final stretch tied atop the leaderboard with Haney and Boulware and had opportunities to separate himself late, only to watch two short putts slide by on the final holes. 

“It was a little bit of reset mode going into the playoff,” Krystyn said. “I was still a little frustrated because I had two chances from five feet out and I just blew them. I completely misread both of them somehow. It was just a complete mental reset. My swing had felt good all week, so I just tried to hit some good shots and put myself in a position to win and I knew those putts would eventually fall.” 

They finally did. 

On the opening playoff hole, the putter that had betrayed him late in regulation suddenly cooperated. Krystyn rolled in a birdie putt to extend the playoff after Haney matched him. 

Then on the second extra hole, Haney nearly applied the pressure. 

The Manhattan sophomore stood over a 10-to-15-foot birdie putt that appeared destined to drop before cruelly lipping out. 

 

“I thought it was going in and it certainly looked like it,” Haney said. “I knew it was breaking and I played it about a foot out. It was turning but it just cut right across the hole.” 

That opened the door for Krystyn. 

Standing over another short birdie putt — eerily similar to one he had made earlier in the day — the Mustang senior calmly buried it to secure his first state championship. 

“It was a little nerve-wracking on those putts in the playoffs,” Krystyn said. “To be honest, I thought I left the first of those putts short, but luckily it just kept going. After I made that first putt, I knew Charlie was going to make his. Then on that second hole, I was in the exact same spot for a putt earlier in the day and I made it, so that gave me confidence to do it again.” 

The playoff also came against one of Krystyn’s closest friends on the golf circuit, which made the moment even more emotional. 

 

“Charlie is a good friend of mine and I know him pretty well,” Krystyn said. “We have been playing together for awhile. I know he is two years younger than me, but he is such a good player and he is super talented. He played solid all week and he always plays good on this course. I knew I was going to be playing with him and some other good players all week.” 

As soon as the winning putt dropped, Blue Valley North teammate Brady Rapp — last year’s individual state champion — wrapped Krystyn in a hug, a fitting moment for a player who spent much of his career alongside one of Kansas golf’s best. 

“To beat him in a playoff, I feel kind of bad because I like the kid so much,” Krystyn added. “He is going to do good things and he is a really talented player and he will go far in the game of golf.” 

Haney returned the admiration. 

“There is not anybody else that I would want to play against than Drew,” Haney said. “He is just a great guy and I am so happy for him. Being a senior and winning a state title is pretty awesome.” 

Blue Valley North coach Trent Hedlund believed his senior had long been ready for a moment like this. 

“I love that kid,” Hedlund said. “Drew really deserves this. He has subtly been in the shadow of Brady Rapp and all he has accomplished these last four years, and he is every bit as good as him and he showed it today. He is constantly working on his craft. He is always on the putting green, just chipping and playing. I am so proud of him. He deserves this one.” 

Krystyn’s consistency carried him throughout the tournament. He recorded an eagle on both days, added three birdies and made very few mistakes. After opening with a bogey-free 69 Tuesday, he carded three bogeys in Wednesday’s tougher conditions as tournament officials lengthened the course and tucked pins into more difficult positions. 

“The course was way different on the second day and it was totally unexpected,” Krystyn said. “The whole back nine played 300 yards longer than the day before. I was definitely surprised to see it. I’m glad I was able to hit some good shots coming in.” 

 

Krystyn spent much of Wednesday battling Boulware, last year’s third-place finisher who entered the day with a one-shot lead after a 4-under 68 in the opening round. The two traded shots throughout the round before Boulware suffered three bogeys on the back nine, including trouble off the tee on No. 17. 

“Stuart and I are really good friends and he is an awesome player, so I knew we would be right there the whole day,” Krystyn said. 

CLASS 6A GOLF TOURNAMENT 

INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS — 1. Drew Krystyn, Blue Valley North, 69-71 – 140; 2. Charlie Haney, Manhattan, 70-70, 140; 3. (tie) Stuart Boulware, Shawnee Mission East, 68-73, 141; Jack Butterbaugh, Olathe Northwest, 71-70; 5. Connor MacGee, Blue Valley, 71-73, 144; 6. Lukas Nelson, Blue Valley West, 71-74, 145; 7. Elliott Cowden, Shawnee Mission East, 75-71, 146; 8. Tate Edwards, Olathe South, 71-76, 147; 9. Will Holtzman, Olathe Northwest, 70-78, 148; 10. (tie) Brady Rapp, Blue Valley North, 72-77, 149; Grayson Kelso, Olathe South, 76-73; Joe Honn, Blue Valley Northwest, 76-73; Porter Howard, Shawnee Mission East, 74-75; Parker Bennett, Blue Valley West, 78-71; 15. (tie) Hudson Bennish, Shawnee Mission East, 71-79; Patrick Smith, Blue Valley North, 72-78; Henry Thompson, Free State, 77-73; 18. (tie) Drew Conley, Olathe Northwest, 75-76; Kyle Elliott, Olathe Northwest, 75-76; 20. (tie) A.J. Kimzey, Free State, 77-75; Luke Taylor, Shawnee Mission East, 78-74