Firebird Klutman takes title

? Free State High’s Quinn Klutman fired a 1-over-par 71, winning the Overland Park Class 6A regional by three strokes and qualifying for state.

Free State’s Daniel Selk (81) and Nick Burkart (85) and Lawrence High’s Levi Oxford (76) also qualified for the state meet, held Monday at Mariah Hills in Dodge City.

The top five individuals not on a qualifying team advance to state. City golfers took four of those slots.

As a team, Free State took fourth – one stroke away from advancing – with a 316, while Lawrence’s 329 was good enough for sixth.

It was a solid day for both city schools, with neither having a golfer shoot above 86. Behind the three state qualifiers, Free State had competitive scores from Travis Walsh (83), Austin Wright (84) and Allen Burkart (85). Lawrence, behind Oxford, had strong days from Mark Mercer (82), Connor Jones (85), Austin Rueschhoff (86), Cameron Hershiser (86) and Cameron Hartford (86).