Hitchcock holding second as Class D golf concludes today

Southern Valley senior Kamden Bose chipping through the weeds on a much chillier RPAC tournament day last week in Cambridge. He's tied for fourth among all Class D state golfers entering final-round play today at Lake Maloney Golf Course near North Platte.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — The Hitchcock County Falcons are only three strokes from leading Class D as state golf tournament starts its second and final round today at Lake Maloney Golf Course.

RPAC champ Hitchcock's 339 is second only to Fort Kearny Conference Overton's 336 while another familiar foe Loomis holds third at 341. A total of 15 Class D teams are playing their final 18 state holes today with Sutton (346) and Hemingford (351) finishing that top five through Tuesday.

Sophomore RPAC champ Jack Baker and Southern Valley senior Kamden Bose both shot 77 to share first place through Tuesday. They are also tied with Overton's Braden Fleischman in a title chase featuring leader Tyson Essex of Loomis, who fired an even-par 72.

Another trio of Gazette-are golfers are currently in strong medal contention.

Braxton Hammond, another Southern Valley senior, is tied for 10th at 79 with Hemingford senior Dax Powell and Anselmo-Mernca senior Aaron Bartak.

Cambridge sophomore Micah Gerlach has a share of the 15th and final state medal after carding 81 on Tuesday. Creighton freshman Teegan Burns and A-M senior Colin Cooksley are also tied for 15th.

Hitchcock sophomore Brayden Melchert is tied for 20th but his 83 is just two strokes from being a potential state medalist.

Falcon senior Ashton Parker Johnson holds 25th place after his 86, Southwest senior Colton Sedlacek shot 96 and Hitchcock junior Mason Schilke aims at a better day than his 105 first round.

Watch for updates and more details in Thursday's Gazette.