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

Justin Siler was dressed and ready to compete in case Free State High golf teammate Tate Steele couldn’t get his balky back to calm down enough to tee it up for 18 holes at Eagle Bend in a 6A boys golf regional.

“I about didn’t play,” Steele said after firing a 79 to finish fifth and help Free State advance to the state tournament Monday at Auburn Hills in Wichita. “I went out to the range at 9 a.m. and hit balls.”

At about 10:40, he said, he told coach Chuck Law he could play and play he did.

Steele hurt the back in February wrestling and it’s been nagging at him since. Then when stretching Friday, he said he suffered a pinched nerve, jeopardizing his status.

Anyone who has seen Steele, a junior, grapple his way to becoming a medalist in three state wrestling meets, knows all about his physical toughness. His mental steeliness was on display Monday. On a day that was as windy as it was sunny, the greens were rolling fast and Steele said he had at least five three-putts through 10 holes.

It’s not always easy for a golfer to stop an avalanche of negative thoughts when that happens, but Steele showed it can be done.

On his final eight holes, he had six one-putt greens and chipped in from off the right side of the green for a birdie on No. 17, after sinking a 10-foot birdie putt on 16.

Teammate Landon Berquist also fired a 79 and took fourth place after a playoff determined the final medal places. Just a sophomore, Berquist already has proven he has the mettle to stand up to state-tournament pressure.

“It was awesome,” Berquist said of competing in the state tournament a year ago, when he shot a 77 and placed 15th. “I’m not playing my best right now, but I’m hoping to turn that around. I hit some really bad shots today.”

Berquist said he will try to figure out how to straighten his driver and if he doesn’t, he’ll see if swing coach Drew Cote can meet him at Twin Oaks in Eudora and take a look under the hood.

LHS didn’t qualify as a team, but three Lions will compete as individuals because they finished among the top five golfers from schools that did not qualify as a team.

Cole Brungardt, who shot an 82, Thomas Taber (91) and Garrett Wildeman (93).

The wind was a factor in scores soaring higher than usual, and so maybe was the pace of play. Not counting the playoffs, typical rounds lasted in excess of six-and-a-half hours. Six golfers carded scores of 142 or higher, eight with 130 or higher.

“I thought I had zero chance (of qualifying for state with a 91),” Taber said. “I thought I blew it. I had opportunities and couldn’t convert them.”

Wildeman also expressed surprise at 93 making the grade.

“I went ahead and treated my last putt as if it was going to be the last putt in my high school career,” Wildeman said.

He’s playing with the house’s money the rest of the way.

6A Regional

Monday at Eagle Bend

Team scores (top three advance to state as team): 1. Washburn Rural 312, 2. Manhattan 323, 3. Free State 329, 4. Lawrence 361, Junction City, 382, 5. Derby 392, 6. Topeka 539.

Medalists: 1. Parker Beal, WR, 76; 2. Alex Rea, WR, 77; 3. Wesley Grogan, Man., 78; 4. Landon Berquist, FS, 79; 5. Tate Steele, FSHS, 79; 6. Josh Priddle, Man., 79, 7. Zach Gibson, WR, 79; 8. Logan Roether, JC, 80; 9. Max Neale, 80, WR; 10. (tie) Cole Brungart, LHS, Hayden Beck, WS, Dustin Wichman, Man., 82.

FSHS results: 4. Berquist 79; 5. Steele 79; 14. Jack Junge 85; 16. Will Cook 86; 17. Dylan Sommer 87; Andrew Park 91.

LHS results: 10. Cole Brungardt 82; 21. Thomas Taber 91; 23. Garrett Wildeman 93; 25. Ross Brungardt 95; 29. Davis Reed 101; 33. Joe Mondigo 110.