By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's boys golf team put itself in position to challenge for a Class 4A state championship after a solid opening round in the state tournament at Newton's Sand Creek Station.
Hayden senior James Kuta shot a 77 in Tuesday's first round of the Class 4A state tournament, tying for fifth individually, while the Wildcats are second as a team entering Wednesday's final round at Newton. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden is in second place in the team standings entering Wednesday's final round at 28-over-par, seven strokes behind Wamego. The Red Raiders and Wildcats went one-two in last week's regional tournament at Wamego.
"We left some strokes out there, but we are excited that we've put ourselves in position to compete for a championship tomorrow,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said in a text.
The Wildcats are seven strokes in front of third-place Bishop Miege after Day 1. The Stags placed third as a team in the Wamego regional.
Senior James Kuta led Hayden Tuesday with a 5-over-par 77 and is tied for fifth place starting the final 18 holes.
Junior Mateo Garcia and senior Nick Gorman shot 79s to tie for ninth place Tuesday while senior Tagen Rodriguez shot an 81, senior Colin Scott an 83 and junior Austin Bean an 86.
Lions fourth in 2A entering final round
Regional champion Cair Paravel Latin is in fourth place in the Class 2A state tournament after the opening round at the Turkey Creek Golf Course in McPherson, advancing to Wednesday's final round.
Cair Paravel junior Caleb Cleverdon led the Lions with a 76, tying for sixth in the opening round, while senior Jase Pavlik shot a first-round 81 and freshman Chase Hastert and junior Luke Budden carded 85s.
Also advancing to Round 2 as individuals are Rossville junior Jack Donovan, a regional champion, and Bulldawg senior Jonathan Hart.
Donovan is tied for sixth place with a 76 while Hart is tied for 11th after a 78.
Rural trio advances to final round in Class 6A
Washburn Rural came up one spot short of advancing to the second round of the Class 6A state tournament as a team, but three Junior Blues qualified for the final round of competition at Winfield's Quail Ridge Golf Course.
Rural junior Higgins Hawks is tied for 19th after a first-round 75 while junior MichaeI Wilson advanced to Day 2 with a 77 and senior Tagan Monasmith qualified with a 78.
Washburn Rural was seventh as a team after the first round, with the top six teams qualifying for the final round.
Manhattan is tied for third with Blue Valley in the team standings at nine-over-par while Blue Valley North was the first-round leader at plus-three, one stroke ahead of Shawnee Mission East.
City contingent comes up short in 5A
Class 5A team qualifier Seaman and individual qualifier Ayden Valdivia of Shawnee Heights failed to advance to Day 2 of state at Emporia Municipal Golf Course.
Seaman ended the opening round in 10th place as a team while Valdivia, a junior, shot an 82.
Sophomore Evan Michalski led Seaman with a 79.
