Emporia ? Seabury Academy senior Reed Grabill carded an 81 to finish in ninth place individually on Monday at the Class 1A state golf tournament at the Emporia Municipal Golf Course.

Grabill took second place as an individual at state last year in McPherson.

“I felt like I could have thrown out a mid-70’s score and probably should have,” Grabill said. “But I let it get away from me early and kind of had to salvage a round.”

Grabill struggled to a 43 on the front nine, but fired a 38 on the back nine. The 38 was the second-best back-nine total of the day.

“He finished strong,” Seabury coach Eric Edwards said. “He definitely felt like he left a few strokes on the course on the front nine. But he finished out his senior year going out in the top 10.”

Grabill said his most memorable shot came on the par-3 13th hole, where he drilled a 15-foot putt for birdie.

“I hit a little 7-iron from 165 (yards) out, and stuck it pin-high, about 15 feet,” Grabill said. “I felt good about the read and drilled the putt in the back of the cup. It was right when I really needed to turn on my game.”

Grabill will attend Washington and Lee (Va.) University next year and intends to walk on to the golf team.