MCPHERSON – Looking to bring Hill City its first team state title in nearly three decades, the Ringnecks knew they needed to stay within striking distance entering Wednesday’s final round of the Class 1A tournament at Turkey Creek Golf Course.

Just five shots back of South Gray after Day 1, the Ringnecks felt they were set up perfectly.

“If we were within 10 shots, we had a good chance,” Hill City coach Don Newell said. “My players play consistent, and we knew our chances were pretty good if we just kept it in play.”

Hill City’s depth helped the Ringnecks overtake South Gray and pull away down the stretch.

After a 310 on Day 1, Hill City followed with a 318 – 14 shots better than South Gray – to win by nine strokes and capture the school’s first team state title in any sport since the Ringnecks' basketball title in 1998.

Kenley Gugleman led the Ringnecks by tying for third after rounds of 75 and 72 for a 147 total. A.J. Deges took seventh with a 156 while Chase Bell also secured a state medal by tying for 17th with a 163.

“We came in here super confident in our ability to play,” Deges said. “I feel like everyone thought that South Gray was gonna pull it out and kind of had Kiowa County above us. But we came out here and made a statement.”

Gugleman’s 72 was tied for the best round on Wednesday with state runner-up Cael Kooiman from Central Christian. He made three birdies on the front nine and bounced back from a triple bogey on 14 to finish with four straight pars.

“He was capable of that all year, and today he really came through,” Newell said.

“I made a lot of putts,” Gugleman said. “I was hitting pretty good shots, hitting out of the fairway a lot and that helps. I missed a couple greens that I shouldn't have, but it was all right.”

Mitchell Presley also came up clutch for the Ringnecks by tying for 22nd with a 167, highlighted by a season-best 81 round on Tuesday. Hill City’s Tate Balthazor and Case Haynes tied for 26th.

“All six of them are pretty comparable, so if one has a bad day, the next one steps up,” Newell said of his team.

“It makes team shenanigans so much fun,” Deges said. “We all are always going against each other, trying to beat each other. Even though we're a team, we're always trying to shoot better scores than each other all the time.

“Everyone on our team contributes. Just a great team to be around.”

It was Hill City’s fifth tournament win of the season. The Ringnecks should be set up well to make a repeat bid, losing just one senior in Balthazor.

South Gray, state champions in 2023 and 2024, took second place as a team as Rebel senior Gavin Wahl won his third straight individual title with a 1-over-par 141. Teammates Daxton Hendrickson (10th, 159) and Kelby Yost (tied for 17th, 163) also earned state medals.

Hodgeman County took third place with a 661, producing three state placers in Kollin Washburn (sixth, 154), Jordy Lee (tied for eighth, 157) and Carson Goebel (tied for 16th, 162).

CLASS 1A STATE GOLF

At Turkey Creek Golf Course, McPherson 

TEAM SCORES

Hill City 310-318–628, South Gray 305-332–637, Hodgeman County 334-327–661, Kiowa County 345-327–672, Onaga 345-352–697, Centralia 350-363–713.

INDIVIDUAL SCORES

1. Gavin Wahl, South Gray, 68-73–141; 2. Cael Kooiman, Central Christian, 73-72–145; 3. (tie) Easton Glessner, Centre, 72-75–147; Kenley Gugleman, Hill City, 75-72–147; 5. Koen Oien, Oberlin, 79-73–152; 6. Kollin Washburn, Hodgeman County, 75-79–154; 7. AJ Deges, Hill City, 76-80–156; 8. (tie) Jordy Lee, Hodgeman County, 80-77–157; Sawyer Campbell, Kiowa County, 81-76–157; 10. Daxton Hendrickson, South Gray, 77-82–159; 11. Thayer Zadina, Kiowa County, 81-79–160; 12. (tie) Levi Schrag, Goessel, 78-83–161; Bronx Talley, Centralia, 79-82–161; Braxon Mangan, Greeley County, 79-82–161; Jace Hoffman, Bishop Seabury, 84-77–161; 16. Carson Goebel, Hodgeman County, 82-80–162; 17. (tie) Kelby Yost, South Gray, 77-86–163; Carlos DeHerrera, Elkhart, 80-83–163; Chase Bell, Hill City, 78-85–163; 20. (tie) Tyler Jones, Centralia, 79-87–166; Graham Valburg, Onaga, 83-83–166.