Prep sand greens state is at Yates Center

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Sports

May 21, 2011 - 12:00 AM

YATES CENTER — Playing on a sand greens golf course involves more than just hitting shots from the tee boxes, staying on the fairways with shots, getting shots onto the greens and into the cups.
Once golfers get their golf balls onto the greens the work begins — dragging individual putting paths in the sand, putting then using a rake to “clear” the green for the next foursome. That is done 18 times in a varsity high school golf tournament.
Monday 35 high school golfers take on Yates Center’s Lakeside Golf Course, a nine-hole course, in the 2011 Kansas Sand Greens State Golf Tournament. Tee off time is 9 a.m.
Defending state champions are the hosting Yates Center High Wildcats. Seniors Jake Morrison and Paul Stockebrand and junior Dylan Bauman lead the Wildcats back to the state tournament after winning individual medals last year. Joining them are freshmen Nick Schemper and Jaden Knoblock.
“We’re excited about having the state tournament here,” said Kevin Barnes, Yates Center High boys’ golf coach. “The guys have been playing well and we know we have to play well Monday to repeat as champions.
“There are some pretty good golfers coming to the state tournament. Riley County is always very competitive and Sylvan-Lucas has three players from Lucas-Luray’s team which took third last year.”
There are six complete teams going after the three team trophies. There are 10 individual medals awarded.
Barnes explained the sand greens on the Yates Center course have oil on them. He said golfers need just the right touch on their approach shots to the greens.
“We have good greens but if you hit an approach shot too hard, the ball can kick up the sand and hit the harder, compacted sand underneath. If that happens, the ball will bounce pretty good,” Barnes said.
“It’s more of a bump and run situation into the greens here.”

ALSO ON MONDAY, Marmaton Valley High senior Dalton Houk plays in his fourth consecutive Kansas Class 2A State Golf Tournament in Garden City. Houk tied for 54th in the 2010 state tournament.
The 2A state tournament is played at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City. There are 91 golfers in the 18-hole event.

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