The Chieftains shot 343 as a team — a season low — but competing against 19 other high schools made a top-five finish difficult to come by.

Nevertheless, it still was a good day for the Chieftains on the links. Freshman Colby Yates continued to swing the clubs well and finished eighth among individuals with a score of 80. Dalton Lawson shot 85, Justin Jacobs and Preston Putthoff each recorded an 89, Mitch DeHoff finished with 94 and Tanner Hale posted a 95.

Coach Jared Jackson was pleased with the results.

“One of our goals is to have all players break 90 and we did that with all four scores,” Jackson said of his top four golfers, whose strokes go toward the team total.

The tournament provided a different challenge for THS, Jackson added, because of Osawatomie Golf Course’s smaller than average greens, which require a handle of the short game — ball placement, chipping and putting.

With four tournaments under their collective belts, Jackson said he has seen much improvement from the Chieftains.

“I have seen an increase in their consistency, which helps them eliminate the one bad hole that can wreck a scorecard,” Jackson said. “Overall, their short games have improved, which has enabled them to take an average of three to five strokes off their round.”

Jackson said the next challenge for THS will be practicing and playing at a championship level for the duration of the season as the golfers prepare for a May 18 regional at Heritage Park Golf Course, Olathe.