Free State golfer Jack Junge tees off on the first hole, Monday, May 15, 2017 at Eagle Bend Golf Course.

For years, Richard Konzem would look from his yard and see a father and son use their sweet swings to drive their golf balls well down the 18th fairway at Lawrence Country Club. But those memories had nothing to do with Konzem, now men’s and women’s golf coach at Rockhurst University, offering Free State High graduate Jack Junge a spot on his golf team.

Junge’s recent hot streak had everything to do with it.

After struggling early in his senior year to regain his form from earlier in his Firebirds career, Junge caught fire late. He finished tied for 12th in the 6A state golf tournament at Auburn Hills in Wichita.

Junge followed that up with a 69 on the final of three days of competition in the Kansas Junior Amateur at par-70 Turkey Creek in McPherson, good for a ninth-place finish.

He said a reliable putter helped him to finish the year strong.

“I’ve been focused on putting a little more aggressively, taking off a little break, and not being afraid to have a 3-footer coming back,” Junge said.

It’s been more than just the putter, though, Junge said.

“I think I just needed to relax and not get too tied up in my golf game, focus on every shot and not get too mad at myself because I think being optimistic is one of the most important aspects of the game,” he said.

Junge credited his father, Chuck, with teaching him the game.

“He basically built my swing from scratch,” Junge said.

In recent years, the younger Junge figured out one area where he could surpass his father.

“We have a lot of similarities, but I’m a little bit stronger mentally than he is,” Jack Junge said. “I think he gets a little bit more mad at himself than I do. … If you get too down on yourself after a shot and carry it onto the next shot it’s not going to help you. You really just have to forget about it and focus on the next shot because you’re already there and you can’t change it. You really have to do that in golf.”

Junge intends to pursue a degree from the Business School at Rockurst.