KHS golfers take 5th at state

Kingfisher shot progressively better throughout each round to finish fifth in last week’s Class 4A boys state golf tournament.

The Jackets had rounds of 335 and 333 during a 36-hole marathon on Monday at Boiling Springs Golf Course in Woodward.

They came back Tuesday to fire a 327.

The 995 had them 11 strokes back of fourth-place Cascia Hall.

Top-ranked Heritage Hall easily claimed the state title with a 913. That was 60 strokes better than runner-up Holland Hall.

Perkins-Tryon was third with a 976.

“Boiling Springs was a great test,” said KHS boys golf coach Chris Combs.

“Anytime you can finish in the top-five of a very tough golf class at the state tournament, you have to be happy.”

Tristun Burnham shrugged off a tough opening-round 85 to finish with a 76 and 75.His 232 tied him for 10th individually.

Blake Hill was 23rd with his 245. He stayed consistent throughout with scores of 81, 82 and 82.

Cash Slezickey followed up his opening score of 81 with rounds of 87 and 85.

Jax Sternberger carded a 92 early, then came back with an 88 and 86 for a 266 total.

Paytun Burnham fired an 88, 97 and 87 for a 272.

All five golfers return next year. Paytun Burnham is a freshman while the remaining four are juniors.

“I like that our scores were a little better each round,” Combs said.

“I’m hopeful of even bigger and better things next season with everyone back, but we have a lot of work ahead of us.”