Tiger golfers second at Pittsburg

PARSONS -- Fort Scott High's golf team finished second to Chanute in the first Southeast Kansas League designated tournament of the year here Tuesday.

The Tigers finished with a team score of 326, eight strokes behind the Blue Comets. Individually, Jeremy Gant of Chanute won his third straight tournament with a 34-36--70. Fort Scott's Cole Murrin was second at 36-39--75 and Paul Norris was fifth at 38-41--79.

"The team improved individually and as a group," Fort Scott head coach Ken Klassen said. "Cole had six birdies, great for any round, but gave strokes back on the par 3's.

"Paul broke into the 70's, where he belongs, and Dylan (Renfro) played much better for his 11th-place finish."

Renfro's score was 40-44--84, just one stroke away from earning a medal himself. Meanwhile, Tanner Beckham shot 43-43--88 to round out the four-man total team score. Evan Heiser finished at 45-46--91 and Nolan Stark shot 48-46--94.

The Tigers will have a bit of time to prepare for the next league meet as they won't play again until next Thursday. The KATY Course at Parsons will be the venue for the fourth meet of the season, which will be the second of the four designated league meets.

"I'm looking forward to the kids continuing to improve," Klassen said. "I would rather not be looking at Chanute's heels but at least they are in sight, not too far ahead of us. Next week ... should be a good test for us."

TEAM SCORES

1. Chanute (CH) 318 (Gant 70, Hale 78, Wiltse 82, Gard 88), 2. Fort Scott (FS) 326 (Murrin 75, Norris 79, Renfro 84, Beckham 88), 3. Independence (IN) 337 (Botts 76, Webster 85, Goad 87, Leiker 89),

4. Coffeyville (CF) 339 (Murrell 83, Vacca 84, Bran. Yeubanks 85, Bre. Yeunabks 87), 5. Pittsburg (PT) 342 (Nichols 80, Wenzel 83, Hudiburg 89, Joy 90), 6. Iola 350 (B. Burris 84, Walden 99, C. Ellis 88, A. Ellis 90),

7. Parsons (PA) 355 (Walters 81, Hoose 89, Hoisington 90, Darkis 95), 8. Labette County 385 (A. Carter 84, Sparks 90, Blair 101, Folk 110), 9. Columbus 479 (Schoech 86, Beech 110, Wilson 133, Hallam 150).

MEDALISTS

1. Jeremy Gant, CH, 34-36--70; 2. Cole Murrin, FS, 36-39--75; 3. Peyton Botts, IN, 36-40--76; 4. Mitchell Hale, CH, 37-41--78; 5. Paul Norris, 38-41--79;

6. Jon Nichols, PT, 40-40--80; 7. Kel Walters, PA, 42-39--81; 8. Cameron Wiltse, CH, 40-42--82; 9. Conner Murrell, CF, 39-44--83; 10. A.J. Wenzel, PT, 41-42--83.