Hays senior Caleb Thompson is coming off his best week of his high school golf career.
Thompson won the Class 5A State Preview at Wichita’s Tallgrass Golf Club on Monday by four shots with a career-low, 2-under 69. He followed with a 1-over 73 and another individual title at the Garden City Invitational at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course on Thursday, leading the Indians to the team title.
Thompson’s breakthrough round at Tallgrass came after he struggled in his first two rounds at the course last July in a Kansas Junior Golf Tour event through Central Links Golf, shooting rounds of 91 and 84.
“Last summer, I played terrible here, but it was really helpful. It’s one of those courses that you have to know where to hit it,” Thompson said. “It’s just a course that’s good to get out and learn it. It’s not easy off the tee. I learned that last summer. I didn’t play well and had lots of penalty strokes. (On Monday) I did a good job of keeping it in play even if it left me a long shot into the green.”
Thompson, who started on the back nine on Monday, notched three consecutive birdies on holes 13-15. He won by four strokes over Bishop Carroll’s Kaden Leivian, who shot a 73.
“It’s a PR for me, but it’s also motivation for state,” Thompson said. “It was kind of a breakthrough round for me. It gives me confidence to know I can go under par and compete.”
On Thursday at Garden City, Thompson edged Garden City’s Brayden Walter by a stroke to make it back-to-back tournament titles.
Hays High carded a 314 team score at Garden City to win by six strokes over Dodge City. Thompson was joined in the top 10 by teammates Braiden Bickle and Trey Oakley, who both shot 80.
OTHER WESTERN KANSAS GOLF STANDOUTS
– South Gray’s Gavin Wahl won his fourth tournament of the season, claiming top medalist honors at the Ashland Invitational at Ashland Golf Course. Wahl carded a 2-under 70 to win by one stroke over Kiowa County’s Sawyer Campbell. South Gray won the team title with a 311.
– Syracuse won its third straight team title, capturing the Hugoton Invitational on Friday at Forewinds Municipal Golf Club. The Bulldogs took the top three individual spots, with Brock Keller winning the tournament with a 75, followed by Charlie Keller (78) and Jarrett Scott (79). Syracuse carded a 320 total, winning by 20 strokes over Colby.
– Oberlin-Decatur swept the individual and team titles at the Wallace County Invitational on Thursday in Sharon Springs. Caden Shaw was the top medalist with a 75, followed by Oberlin teammates Gage Williby (75) and Koen Oien (77). Oberlin shot a 327 as a team.
– Russell’s Jake Mooney continued his strong senior season by winning the Broncos’ home invitational on Thursday at Russell Municipal Golf Course. Mooney shot a career-best 73 to edge Phillipsburg’s Mason Laurin by one stroke. The Broncos also took the team title with a 341.
– Sawyer Campbell led a 1-2-3 finish for Kiowa County at its home tournament on Tuesday at Cannonball Golf Course. Campbell was top medalist with a 74 while Boone McDonald (76) and Thayer Zadina (83) took second and third for the Mavericks. Kiowa County carded a 325 to take the team title.
– Hill City won the Thomas More Prep-Marian Invitational on Monday at Smoky Hill Country Club. Chase Bell led the Ringnecks with an 80 to place second. Hill City shot 334 as a team to edge Hoisington by three strokes.
– Oakley’s Easton Fink shot a career-best 7-under 65 to win the Hoxie Invitational on Tuesday. Fink led the Plainsmen to the team title with Oakley carding a 295.
KSHSAA Covered writer Scott Paske contributed to this report.