Local golfers in an excited state

Fresh off a regional championship, Lawrence High boys golfers have refused to relax. They still have work to do at the Class 6A state golf tournament.

The Lions will begin teeing off at 10 a.m. today at Carey Park in Hutchinson. Free State’s boys golf team, which took third at regionals to qualify for state, will start at 9:30 a.m.

After winning their first tournament of the season, the Lions hope to bring back more hardware with a strong finish at state.

Their goal is a top-three finish, and despite the tall task, they’re up for the challenge.

“We have one left in us,” said Brent Cahwee, Lawrence’s lone senior. “They’re all playing for me, so I hope we do well. … I went (to state) my sophomore year, and it was a blast. To end my high school career going to state, it’s just a wonderful experience.”

Cahwee is the only LHS golfer with state tournament experience, but the rest of the Lions — Cole Brungardt, Dawson Dykes, Braxton Olson, Jack Ryan and Garrett Wildeman — have been focused on making the most of their first trip to the state tournament.

“I’m pretty sure we’ve been at the course every single day,” Cahwee said. “We’re ready for this. We’re hoping for a big day.”

“Pretty excited for my first time going,” Olson said. “I’m getting pretty nervous. But I’m going to enjoy the moment.

“I want to go low 70s. That would be my goal. I just have to get off the tee box with my driver, and then I think I can make it happen.”

The Lions have been led this season by Dykes, Brungardt, Olson and Wildeman. They have posted the top LHS scores at each tournament, and they hope they saved their best for last.

“The top four haven’t put a really good round up yet,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said. “It’s out there. It’s just a matter of time until they do it. I hope it’s (today) and not in 2016.”

“I wouldn’t put anything past them,” Wedd added. “They’re a very determined group. They are capable of it. The course kind of plays to their strengths. It’s not unbelievably difficult. Someone is going to get hot, and they haven’t been hot yet to where they could be. All four of them are capable of 77, 78 and 79. You bunch that up, and you may bring home something.”

The Firebirds have struggled in the past few weeks but hope they can put some of those errant shots and bad putts behind them.

“They’re pretty pumped up,” FSHS coach Matt Gudenkauf said. “We just finished a practice round. Hopefully the weather holds. The course is obviously pretty wet. The course isn’t the nicest of all things, but it’s very scoreable, and I think they kind of felt the same way and have high expectations.”

Free State has been led by junior Jack Flynn, who took second individually at regionals, and sophomore Jack Junge this season. Both were the team’s only state participants last year.

The Firebirds also hope to get strong rounds from seniors Coleman Houk, Matt Siler and Daniel Clarke and freshman Tate Steele.

“Everybody is kind of on an even playing field here. Not many schools have played it,” Gudenkauf said. “I think, too, this course is more of a traditional Kansas course. … The greens are a lot faster. The wind usually isn’t as big of a factor as it is out here. It kind of changes the whole game up a little bit.

“What will we see (today)? I don’t know, but I feel pretty good about it.”