photo by: Richard Gwin

Free State freshman Landon Berquist pitches out of a sand trap at Brookridge Country Club in Overland Park on Monday in regional play. Berquist shot an 81 and was one of four Firebirds to qualify for the state tournament as individuals.

Overland Park ? In the past few weeks, Free State High sophomore Tate Steele could tell he was starting to become more consistent on the golf course. It all paid off Monday.

Playing through the rain and wind at Brookridge Country Club, Steele had one of his best rounds of the season, carding a 79 and tying for 10th place at the Class 6A boys golf regional.

Steele’s performance earned him a spot at the 6A state tournament as an individual qualifier. In addition to Steele, juniors Jack Junge and Justin Siler, and freshman Landon Berquist are headed to state next week after placing among the top five individuals at the regional who weren’t on a state qualifying team.

“I knew coming in that I was playing better than I had all year,” Steele said. “To shoot 79 in these conditions … if it was normal conditions, it would be way lower. It makes me optimistic for state.”

The top three teams qualify for state and the Firebirds took fourth with 326 strokes, 13 strokes behind Shawnee Mission East and Shawnee Mission Northwest. Blue Valley North won the regional with 310 strokes.

Steele, who took ninth in the Sunflower League, was strong with his drives Monday and “made everything” on the putting green.

The only time Steele was affected by the weather was during his short game, when trying to control the distance with his short irons. He tied with four other golfers with a 79 and “chunked a chip” during the play-off.

It will be the second trip to state for Steele, who played when the Firebirds qualified as a team last year.

“Last year I came in and I was really nervous,” said Steele, the school’s first state champion wrestler. “I shot like a 95 at regionals. To already have the experience makes you able to control your nerves.”

Right behind Steele, Berquist shot an 81 while Junge and Siler both fired an 83. It was the best round of the season for Siler, who was practicing Sunday night at the Lawrence Country Club driving range.

“Justin, this is kind of from nowhere,” FSHS coach Chuck Law said. “But I’m really happy for him because he really cares and he really works at his game. … Obviously, he was mentally tough enough today to overcome the conditions and play a round that’s good enough to get him to the state tournament. I’m so happy for him.”

Siler said he has struggled for most of the season, but he made plenty of greens on Monday, making up for his “average” putting.

“It’s very exciting, especially in these conditions,” Siler said. “The rain wasn’t the best thing but I couldn’t change anything about it.”

Lawrence High finished sixth at the regional and didn’t have any golfers qualify for the state tournament. Senior Dawson Dykes and junior Cole Brungardt each shot an 84, finishing one stroke away from a spot at state.

“We didn’t play real well, but it had nothing to do with the weather,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said. “Everyone else is out there fighting the elements. We just didn’t play as well as we could have, that’s the bottom line.”

The state tournament begins at 8:30 a.m. Monday at Manhattan Country Club.

Class 6A regional

Monday at Brookridge Country Club

Team Scores (top three advance to state): Blue Valley North 310, Shawnee Mission East 313, Shawnee Mission Northwest 313, Free State 326, Shawnee Mission South 346, Lawrence 356, Shawnee Mission West 385, Shawnee Mission North 543.

Medalists: 1. Thomas Luger, SME, 72; 2. Blake Allen, SMNW, 75; 3. Christian Ghilardi, SMNW, 75; 4. Josh Pederson, BVN, 75; 5. Joe Bultman, SMNW, 77; 6. Ryan Bender, BVN, 78; 7. Jack Lee, BVN, 78; 8. Andy Spencer, SME, 79; 9. Owen Hill, SME, 79; t-10. Tate Steele, FS, 79; t-10. Nick Kagy, BVN, 79.

Top five individual state qualifiers: Tate Steele, FS, 79; Landon Berquist, FS, 81; Jake Mankin, SMS, 82; Jack Junge, FS, 83; Justin Siler, FS, 83.

Free State results: t-10. Tate Steele, 79; 13. Landon Berquist, 81; t-16. Jack Junge, 83; t-16. Justin Siler, 83; t-29. Carson Ziegler, 93; t-29. Will Cook, 93.

Lawrence High results: t-20. Cole Brungardt, 84; t-20. Dawson Dykes, 84; 28. Braxton Olson, 91; t-32. Ross Brungardt, 97; t-32. Thomas Taber, 97; 37. Garrett Wildeman, 99.