Sue Sitter/PCT Three of six state-bound Rugby Panthers golfers practice their shots at the Rugby Golf Course before leaving for the North Dakota Class B State Tournament in Wahpeton June 5. From left are Bailey Zachmeier, Bryce Jacobs and Jackson Brossart. Not pictured are Bryce Zietz, Kiefer Fritz and Lucas Wentz.

Six state qualifiers for the Rugby Panthers Boys’ Golf team traveled to Wahpeton’s Bois de Sioux Golf Course June 5 for the state class B tournament held June 6 and 7.

Coach Mike Santjer said the six on Rugby’s state team represented the top golfers among 35 on the team this year.

“We have a lot more kids than in previous years,” Santjer said. “That’s probably the most ever that we’ve had. We graduated six seniors, but between seventh and eighth grade, we probably have 14,” he said. “It’s great to have numbers and young numbers, so they’re excited about playing.”

Traveling to state along with Santjer and Assistant Coach Lance Zietz were Jackson Brossart, a junior at Rugby High School, Bailey Zachmeier and Bryce Jacobs, both sophomores, freshman Bryce Zietz, and eighth graders Lucas Wentz and Kiefer Fritz.

Five of the six golfers qualified at the Region 4 Qualifier Tournament held at Minot Air Force Base May 30.

Zietz qualified May 23 at a previous meet at the air base, shooting a 76. His score tied with those shot by region leaders Max Palmer of Bottineau and Jett Lundeen of Bishop Ryan.

“In a team qualifier, we took third,” Santjer noted. “The top three teams go to state. Our region was really close. Bottineau was the best team in our region, and then Our Redeemer’s beat us out of second place by one stroke. And then, we took third, actually, in a tie with Northern Lights.”

Santjer said to break the tie, judges considered the score of each team’s fifth-place golfer. “Our fifth golfer had a better score than theirs,” Santjer said.

“There were a few teams below us that were right there, too,” he added. “So, all season, as coaches, we were looking at who was going to make it at the end, because there was a lot of good competition, and close scores at the end.”

“In the team qualifier, (Zietz) qualified with another 76,” Santjer added.

“And Bailey Zachmeier shot an 84. He was only two strokes out of making the top 10 to be on the all-region team, so Bailey golfed really well, too.”

“And then, we had Kiefer Fritz, who shot an 89, and Jackson Brossart shot a 91,” Santjer added.

“They only take the top scores out of our six,” he said. “So, those were our top four. Lucas Wentz came in and shot a 92. And his 92 was better than Northern Lights. Bryce Jacobs shot a 94.”

“So, we were all in that same area and we knew going in that we would have to shoot the same as we had done in (the team’s best competitions),” Santjer noted.

“For all these guys, it’s the first time at a state golf meet,” he said of his young team.

“Last year, Bryce (Zietz) missed the top 10 by one stroke. So, this will be new for all of them,” he added. “It’ll be exciting just to spend some time in the hotel and in the long car ride down to Wahpeton.”

Would the Panthers feel nervous playing at state?

“I don’t think it’s set in yet,” Santjer said, smiling. “They will be when they step on that first tee box and there’s a big crowd around and they announce their names and then reality will click in a little bit, they’ll say, ‘Oh, this is a pretty big deal.'”

“They’re pretty young kids, so this will be exciting for them,” he added.