Jackets play their way back to state

One year ago, Kingfisher’s hopes of reaching the state tournament were dashed on its home course.

All but one of the Jacket golfers shot in the 80s or higher in a 4A regional at Kingfisher Golf Course and the Yellowjackets missed qualifying for state by five strokes.

On Thursday, those same five golfers returned to attempt to reconcile what happened a year before.

The results were strikingly better and the Jackets’ goal was achieved.

After missing out a season ago, KHS boys golf is headed back to the 4A state golf tournament.

Back at their home course, the Jackets shot rounds of 302 and 297 in the 36-hole event.

The 599 total placed them fourth and automatically put them into state, which will be held May 12-13 at Dornick Hills in Ardmore.

The 2024 version of the regional was shortened to 18 holes and Kingfisher turned in a 328.

But the Jackets were much sharper on Thursday.

With a reprieve from the rain, golfers played under sunny skies, but on a soggy course.

The Jackets’ first 18 saw them count scores of a 1-over-par 71 for Cale Reagan, a pair of 76s from Luciano Orozco and Paytun Burnham and a 79 from Myles Harrison.

Only Orozco shot in the 70s last year.

Although his score didn’t count toward the team total, Matthew Mecklenburg’s 85 was a stark improvement over the 96 he fired off in 2024.

The 302 had KHS in fourth place behind Crossings Christian (274), Plainview (289) and Bethany (292) in the 14-team field.

Byng sat at fifth at 316 and Lincoln Christian sixth at 325 and were among the teams trying to push KHS for the last state spot.

Crossings’ score was – for the team – 6-under-par.

The Knights turned in rounds of 65, 69, 69 and 71 and tossed out a 75.

Although the Jackets were solid in their first 18, they were even better as they grinded through their afternoon round.

Reagan again led the group, this time with a 73.

Harrison cut out the bad holes that plagued him in his first round and carded a 74.

Mecklenburg was 10 strokes better and turned in a 75, as did Orozco.

Burnham stayed steady with his 76.

That score allowed the Jackets to not only pull away from Byng and Lincoln, but KHS nearly caught Bethany.

The Bronchos shot 306 in the afternoon round. They ultimately placed third with their 598.

Crossings was once again under-par for the round, this time with a 279.

It finished at 553, which was 7-under-par for the day.

Plainview was the runner- up with a 569.

Crossings also had three of the top-four medalists (regional award medals to the top-four finishers).

Jackson Magness was the overall medalist with his rounds of 65 and 67. The 132 was 8-under-par for the day.

William Bishop and Jude Shingleton both had 139s, but Bishop won a two-hole playoff for third place.

Second place went to Plainview’s Jace Chaney, who had rounds of 69 and 67 for a 136.

The top-four placers from non-qualifying teams also advance to state.

Those spots belonged to Cushing’s Koda Chavez (149 total), Mannford’s Taven Fentress (151), Cushing’s Korben Gaskins (152) and Lincoln Christian’s Brant Rizhaupt (153).

For Kingfisher’s Reagan’s 144 placed him eighth overall. He was the top placer not from either Crossings or Plainview.

Orozco’s 151 was good for 15th, Burnham’s 152 placed him 17th, Harrison’s 153 placed 19th and Mecklenburg’s 160 placed 32nd.

There were 76 individuals in the tournament.