Bison golf team one stroke away from state meet

Courtesy photo McCook High School's Class B state golf meet qualifiers are (left to right) Shelby Allen, Kaylee Samway and Alex Trew. The trio qualified at the Class B-4 District meet Monday, Oct. 5, at Sidney. Trew shot an 18-hole total of 94 strokes, while Samway and Allen both shot a 96. The McCook trio will be among the competitors to tee off Monday, Oct. 12 at Jackrabbit Run in Grand Island in the first round of the Class B state meet.

SIDNEY -- McCook High School's girls came oh so close to qualifying the entire team to the Class B State Golf Championships.

The Bison girls finished fourth at the Class B-4 District meet held Monday at the Hillside Golf Course in Sidney. McCook was just one stroke behind third-place Gering in the final team standings.

The top three teams at district earn a berth at state.

Scottsbluff ran away with the district title, as all four Bearcat golfers finished in the top 10. Scottsbluff had an 18-hole total of 346 strokes. Sidney was second at 372. Gering earned the third state meet berth from the B-4 district with a 389, with McCook fourth at 390.

The top 10 individual medalists also qualified for state, and a trio of McCook golfers earned state meet trips. Senior Alex Trew placed seventh at districts with a 94. Kaylee Samway, a freshman, finished ninth with a 96. Shelby Allen, a junior, also tied for tenth with a 96.

The Bison trio will compete at the Class B State Meet at the Jackrabbit Run Golf Course in Grand Island next Monday and Tuesday. The McCook girls are planning to play a practice round at Jackrabbit Run next Sunday in preparation for the 36-hole state competition.

McCook golf coach Randy Ryser said his team "ended up as close as we could," to qualifying for state. Ryser said he thought at the beginning of the season that his Bison squad could contend for a state qualifying berth at districts.

"I think the kids took a lot of pride in the improvement we've made over the last year," Ryser said. "All the kids knew there was one place, whether it was the first hole, the ninth hole, anywhere on the course, a stroke or two was there. This should give them something to look forward to for next June, July and August."

Ryser was not surprised that Trew, Allen and Samway earned state meet trips.

"Shelby Allen has been real steady for us all year," Ryser said. "Alex Trew is a four-year player who carried us this fall. If there was a surprise, it might be Kaylee Samway. She played steady. She has a good, tough mental approach to the game, so it is not really a surprise."

Coach Ryser said the Jackrabbit Run course in Grand Island reminds him of a combination of the Elks County Club course in Columbus (where the Bison girls competed in the GNAC Conference meet last Friday) -- with a little wider fairways -- and Lakeside at Lexington.

"It's a course where the kids really enjoy playing," the McCook coach said.

The Class B State Meet competitors will play the opening 18-hole round next Monday, followed by the final 18 holes Tuesday at Jackrabbit Run.

CLASS B-4 DISTRICT GIRLS GOLF MEET

Monday, Oct. 5 at Hillside G.C., Sidney

Team Standings

(Top Three Teams Qualify for State)

Top 10 Individual Medalists

(Top 10 & Ties Qualify For State)

3. Kate Krzyanowski, Scottsbluff 84

McCook Individual Scores: