Rockhurst edges Liberty for sectional golf title

Although Andrew Knopke had a rough day as Rockhurst’s No. 1 golfer, his score may have been the one that ended up mattering most.

After counting up the scores of the top four golfers on each of the seven qualifying teams, Rockhurst and Liberty were deadlocked at 297 points, and Knopke’s score of 82 was just enough to give Rockhurst a one-point victory at the Missouri Class 4 sectional on Monday at Winterstone Golf Course.

Both teams, as well as the top 12 individual qualifiers, advance to the Class 4 state tournament next Monday and Tuesday at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau.

“What’s nice is that even though one of our players didn’t play great, we talk about how it is still as a team concept,” Rockhurst coach Mark Nusbaum said. “His scores actually did end up counting, and the other kids, my goodness.”

The Hawklets, who are going for their second state title in three years, were led by Luke Henke, who tied with Liberty’s Sam Parrott for the top score of 71. Greg Watkins added a 73, Peter Dierks shot a 75 and Kevin Lane had a 78.

Park Hill South may have missed the state cut as a team, but there will still be three Panthers competing.

Nick Sobba led the group with a par 72, while Tanner Owen and Luke Becker qualified with a 76 and 77, respectively.

“Tanner Owen and I have been pretty consistent, and then Luke has played varsity all four years so he has been there to help us,” Sobba said.

“He is playing well now, too, which will help us at state.”

Park Hill South finished third in the team standings with 306 points.

Since the beginning of the season, Lee’s Summit North’s Keaton Black has been hoping to get back to the state tournament.

He placed 64th at the state meet as a sophomore, but missed the cut last year. This time, he was able to qualify again with a 2-over 73.

“It’s pretty rewarding,” Black said. “With all the practice I’ve done this season, I’m glad it paid off and I get to go to state.”

Black had three birdies and four bogeys. He was the only qualifier from Lee’s Summit North, which finished sixth as a team with 325 points.

Park Hill senior Logan Lashbrook capped off his high school career with one of the most exciting moments of the day, a hole in one on the 14th hole. The only downside is that he missed it.

“I hit a pitching wedge from 136 yards and it landed about 2 feet behind the pin and I guess just bounced in,” Lashbrook said. “I didn’t see it, I just heard everyone start screaming and just put my hands in the air.”

He finished with an 85 with splits of 48 and 37.

Robert Stienbeck and Kyle Barbee of Blue Springs South, Nelson Searcy and Kerry Maguire of Lee’s Summit West, Boston Parker and Cole Roberts of St. Joseph Central, Cole Gage of North Kansas City and Pierce Moling of Kearney all qualified for the state tournament.

This story was originally published May 12, 2014 at 10:42 PM with the headline "Rockhurst edges Liberty for sectional golf title."