WINFIELD – A second year of high school golf has made Connor Newman a little less of a risk taker. It’s helped him accept the occasional ill fate the sport dishes out indiscriminately.
And it’s also, as of Wednesday at Quail Ridge Golf Course, made him a state champion.
Newman, a Humboldt sophomore, turned the tide on a rare rough patch midway through the second round of the Class 2A boys state golf tournament. His eagle on the par-5 ninth hole served as a springboard for a comfortable closing nine that gave him a five-shot victory over runner-up Caleb Cleverdon of Cair Paravel.
Newman, a co-runner-up in Class 3A last year at Garden City’s Buffalo Dunes, posted a 36-hole total of even-par 144 over two days at Quail Ridge to add his name to a list of family golf champions at Humboldt. Newman’s grandfather, Craig, won the state 2-man sand greens title with Mark Murrill for the Cubs in 1979. His father, Todd, helped Humboldt capture the Class 2-1A team title in 2002.
On Wednesday evening, Humboldt coach Bret Hauser drove Newman back into town with a police escort as an individual champion.
Humboldt's Connor Newman pitches on to the first green Tuesday as Cubs coach Bret Hauser watches during the Class 2A tournament at Winfield's Quail Ridge.
“My game felt great,” said Newman, who collected his eighth victory of the high school season and 15
th over two years. “Normal golf versus tournament golf can be two very different things. But I was able to commit to shots and stay mentally free. If I hit a bad shot, I gave myself grace to make the next shot better.”
Newman has grown accustomed to playing with a lead, and he put himself in that position Tuesday with a 1-under 71 – the tournament’s lone round under par. While he never conceded the lead in the second round, Newman needed a jolt after playing a five-hole stretch of the front nine in 4 over.
Enter the eagle at the 506-yard ninth.
“That just shifted his momentum,” Hauser said. “From that point, he was hitting solid golf shots and putting the ball where he needed to be.”
With his lead at four shots, Newman played a steady final nine holes, adding a birdie at the par-5 12
th and making pars the rest of the way. His 73 was again the low round of the day.
Cleverdon, who tied for sixth in last year’s 2A tournament, finished with a 76 for a 149 total to secure the runner-up spot. Syracuse’s Brock Keller finished third at 153, closing with a 74 that helped the Bulldogs post their second straight team runner-up finish.
“Connor played at state like he has played all year,” said Hauser, who watched Newman win his first five tournaments this spring and then, after runner-up finishes in the Labette County and Humboldt invitationals, close with his second straight Tri-Valley League and regional titles prior to state. “Day 1, his driver kind of left him for a little bit, but he did a great job of getting in with a good score.
“This year, he’s just shown a lot maturity and taking the higher percentage shots.”
Cair Paravel's Caleb Cleverdon watches his tee shot on Quail Ridge's 18th hole Tuesday. Cleverdon finished second in 2A with a 36-hole total of 5-over 149.
Newman said he has had good tutelage under his own roof. Todd Newman played on an NJCAA national tournament qualifying team at Hutchinson Community College and competed briefly on mini-tours.
“He’s helped me grow my game mentally,” Newman said. “I’ve learned adversity is going to hit you in a round and do you stay down or get back up and fight through it? I’ve learned how to shake things off, and know when to take my medicine and hit to the middle of greens.
“Last year I might have kept trying to go pin-hunting to make up for those strokes I lost. You have to let it come to you and I feel like I did that today.”
A small group welcomed Newman back to the high school Wednesday to celebrate Humboldt’s first individual golf champion. While Newman may have family bragging rights in that regard, he wasn’t flaunting it.
“One thing that has helped my golf is my support system,” Newman said. “Humboldt is a tight-knit community, and after yesterday there were many gracious Facebook comments and texts of support win or lose. They’re always supportive and I know not everybody has that. It makes me feel really good.”
CLASS 2A STATE GOLF
At Quail Ridge Golf Course, Winfield
TEAM SCORES
Sacred Heart 643, Syracuse 649, Hutchinson Trinity 665, TMP-Marian 679, Oakley 682, St. Marys 714.
INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS
1. Connor Newman, Humboldt, 71-73–144; 2. Caleb Cleverdon, Cair Paravel, 73-76–149; 3. Brock Keller, Syracuse, 4. Easton Fink, Oakley, 79-75–154; 5. Jack Donovan, Rossville, 79-76–155; 6. Charlie Keller, Syracuse, 81-75–156; 7. Tyler Casebolt, Hutchinson Trinity, 79-78–157; 8. Ethan Newell, Sacred Heart, 78-80–158; 9. (tie) Jamie Hamilton, St. Mary’s Colgan, 78-81–159; Chase Drennon, TMP-Marian, 78-81–159; 11. Will Tuttle, Sacred Heart, 77-83–160; 12. (tie) Miles Blaylock, Hutchinson Trinity, 79-82–161; Jack Krusich, St. Mary’s Colgan, 81-80–161; 14. (tie) Jake Koksal, Sacred Heart, 76-87–163; Mason Rozean, TMP-Marian, 85-78–163; 16. Ben Marrs, Sacred Heart, 81-83–164; 17. Chase Hastert, Cair Paravel, 85-81–166; 18. Ian Shaw, WaKeeney-Trego, 79-88–167; 19. (tie) Jarrett Scott, Syracuse, 83-86–169; Dominic Matteucci, Sacred Heart, 79-90–169; Easton Ditter, Plainville, 85-84–169; Cameron Morris, Sterling, 86-83–169; Luke Friesen, Berean Academy, 85-84–169.