Blair High School golfer Easton Chaffee was 1-over par after one hole Monday at River Wilds Golf Club.
“I played it really well, but I still got a bogey,” the senior said. “And, you know, I just kind of fought back and was like, 'It's OK. Let's just make it to state.'”
That goal was more than attainable.
“But, then, I kept playing better and better,” he added.
Chaffee finished with an even-par 72 strokes on his home course, earning the Class B District 2 title and advancing to his second-straight state tournament. The total matched his career low and set his new low at River Wilds.
“Considering it was districts and the nerves are high, I would say this is the top round of my life,” the senior said. “Best feeling ever to finish with a birdie.”
Coach Ross Udey's Bears finished fifth out of 12 teams overall, carding 376 swings. Columbus Lakeview was first with 342, qualifying for the Class B championship meet in Gering alongside second-place Elkhorn Mount Michael (344 strokes) and Columbus Scotus (358).
Senior Landen Oppliger shot Blair's second-best score, finishing with an 18-hole 96. He tied for 28th and shot par on five holes, while 33rd-place Connor Wayman did the same to finish with 101 strokes overall.
The Bears' Tyler Lantry took 107 swings for 39th, while Luke Valasek stepped in at the last minute and played as Udey's fifth player. He tied for 57th overall.
Chaffee stood out against the whole field of golfers, though. He was five strokes ahead of second-place Jacob Goertz of Mount Michael and finished with five birdies, including one on No. 18. He also shot par on seven holes.
“I practiced, probably, a lot more and I figured out some things that really helped me with this round,” Chaffee said. “And my driver is the best its ever been today.”
The senior finished tied for 30th at state as a junior and hopes for an improvement this year.
“Top-15,” he said.
The Class B state tournament begins 9 a.m. MDT Tuesday on Monument Shadows Golf Course in Gering. It continues Wednesday with 18 more holes before champions are crowned at its conclusion.
CLASS B DISTRICT 2 TOURNAMENT
Monday at River Wilds Golf Club
Team standings (top 3 advance to state): Columbus Lakeview 342 strokes, Elkhorn Mount Michael 344, Bennington 348, Columbus Scotus 358, Blair 376, O'Neill 384, Omaha Roncalli 396, Douglas County West 403, Wayne 415, Albion Boone Central 424, Schuyler 477, South Sioux City 498.
Individual qualifiers: 1, Easton Chaffee, Blair, 72 strokes. 2, Jacob Goertz, Mount Michael, 77. 3, Maxwell Fremarek, Lakeview, 79. 4, Karter Otte, O'Neill, 80. 5, Bo Armstrong, Wayne, 82. 6, Cole Rager, SSC, 82. 7, Nick Fleming, Scotus, 85. 8, Brady Nichols, Bennington, 85. 9, Kurt Schneider, Lakeview, 86. 10 (tie), Jack Clements, Bennington; Patrick Arndt, Scotus; Trevor Sloup, Lakeview, 86.
Blair results: 1, Chaffee, 72 strokes. 28 (tie), Landen Oppliger, 96. 33, Connor Wayman, 101. 39, Tyler Lantry, 107. 57 (tie), Luke Valasek, 143.
