photo by: Journal-World Sports Staff

The Journal-World All-Area Teams.

Coach of the Year: Chuck Law, Free State

The Firebirds finished fifth in Sunflower League play, and Law sent three golfers — senior Jack Randall and sophomores Cash Nelson and Henry Thompson — to the 6A state championship in Garden City.

Free State’s Jack Randall attempts to make a putt during the Justin Siler Memorial Tournament at the Lawrence Country Club on Monday, May 2, 2022.

Player of the Year: Jack Randall, Free State

Already a reigning All-Area player of the year, the senior Randall posted a per-round average of 75 strokes for the best mark of any area golfer this season. He finished in the top 10 on six separate occasions, half of those as runner-up, and tied for 18th at the state tournament. He was picked for the all-state second team by the Kansas Golf Coaches Association.

Colton Brusven

Colton Brusven, Tonganoxie

Brusven, a senior, reached the state tournament for the third time in his high school career while shooting an average of 82.7 strokes.

Tyler Deterding

Tyler Deterding, Eudora

Deterding, a junior, averaged 79 strokes per round with a low round of 75 at the Wamego Invitational. He was the top individual from a nonqualifying team when he shot a 13-over 84 at regional competition in Chanute and ended up coming in 11th at the 4A state tournament.

Liam Ellis

Liam Ellis, Perry-Lecompton

The Kaws’ top performer all season with an average score of 96.3, the junior Ellis finished 11th at regionals with a 27-over 98 and was just one place away from going to state.

Aiden Graff-Hannah

Aiden Graff-Hannah, Free State

The junior Graff-Hannah had a stroke average of 80.9 on the year but shot a 70 to win the Seaman Invitational, which was the lowest round by any Firebird all season.

Jace Hoffman

Jace Hoffman, Bishop Seabury

After tying for first place in 1A regional competition at Washington-Cedar Hills Golf Course, the junior Hoffman placed seventh at state when he shot a 156 in Hesston. His season-long average was 79.5 strokes.

photo by: Courtesy of Steve Randall

From left, Free State golfers Jack Randall, Cash Nelson and Henry Thompson qualified for the 6A state championship.

Cash Nelson, Free State

Nelson averaged 79.5 strokes as a sophomore and won the Washburn Rural Great Plains Invitational by shooting a 72, later qualifying for state.

Henry Thompson, Free State

The sophomore Thompson’s stroke average of 78.0 was second among the Firebirds and one of the best in the area. He tied for 29th at the 6A state championship.

Nate Schworm

Nate Schworm, Lawrence

The junior earned runner-up finishes at the Jaguar Invitational and Olathe East Invitational while leading the Chesty Lions with a stroke average of 80.5.

Gunnar Wayenberg

Gunnar Wayenberg, Lawrence

The senior Wayenberg wasn’t far behind teammate Schworm with his average of 81.4 strokes and shot his lowest round of the season with a 78 at the SME Invitational.