Free State junior Claire Berquist saved her best for last at the Class 6A state tournament on Monday at Emporia Municipal Golf Course, parring her final two holes to finish the day in a tie for 13th place.

Berquist, who earlier this season set a FSHS school record by shooting a single-round 72 at a midseason tournament shot an 88 on Monday.

That was good enough to earn her a spot in Round 2 and Berquist is still in the hunt for a medal.

“Claire ended the day on a positive note and put herself in good position to make a run at a top-10 finish,” FSHS coach Layne Meyer said. “She needs to be better around the green in Round 2, which is usually a strong point for her. So we feel confident going into Day 2.”

The FSHS junior shot a 45 on the front nine and improved on that with a 43 on the back. She carded six pars on the day, including a stretch of three pars in five holes from No. 6 to No. 10.

Berquist will be in the third group to tee off on Tuesday. She will be playing with Ryann Warren of Garden City and Ashlyn Armstrong of Dodge City. Armstrong and Warren both shot 89 on Monday.

Lawrence High senior Rylie Hayden, who made her fourth appearance at state in her four seasons with the Lions on Monday, was consistent throughout the day, shooting a 54 on the front nine and a 53 on the back to finish in a tie for 67th.

Hayden’s lone par on the day came on the par-5 11th hole and was a part of her best two-hole stretch of the day.

“Today just didn’t go Rylie’s way,” LHS coach John Moos said. “She played in some pretty tough winds and was unable to make the cut to Day 2. But what an awesome four years she had for LHS. Making it to state all four years is an amazing accomplishment and great things are in her future.”