DCHS golfers finish second in regional

    WICHITA — The Dodge City Red Demons boys golf team played their Class 6A regional Monday in windy conditions they are used to playing at home.
    The Red Demons were able to battle to stay with their game plan despite the wind at Tex Consolver Golf Course to finish second at the regional and qualify for next week's state tournament at Olathe's Shadow Glen Golf Course.
    The Red Demons shot 329 as a team, nine shots behind team regional champion Maize. Goddard was the third team to qualify from Consolver with a 331.
    “I was real pleased of them,” said DCHS head coach Jim Mapel. “They played hard in very difficult conditions, and they did what they needed to do to qualify.”
    Dodge City's Jared Tagtmeyer, one of two Demons to qualify for state last year, won the regional's individual title after shooting a 76 on the day — two strokes better than his nearest competition. Aaron Mapel, the other returning state qualifier, finished ninth with an 81.
    Tagtmeyer said having the entire team go to next week's state tournament was much more special than winning the individual title.
    “To go as a team is really good because we deserve it for the way we've played all year,” Tagtmeyer said. “We've been very competitive at all the meets, and it's another accomplishment for our team and our school.”
    Mitchell Goedeken was the third low scorer for the Demons with an 84, while Brennan Savage shot 88. The other two scores for Dodge City were a 90 by Mykael Thompson and a 97 by Zach Schneweis.
    The Red Demons took control of their destiny after shooting a 157 on the front nine.
    All the teams in the tournament had trouble keeping low scores on the back nine due to the windy conditions. But Dodge City was able to maintain its position, while Maize was able to pull away from the rest of the participants by a few strokes.