Tight Finish Highlights Rawlins County Invitational at Atwood Country Club

by Derek White

ATWOOD, Kan. — On a cool and breezy Saturday, high school golf teams from northwest Kansas gathered at the Rawlins County Invitational for a competitive 18-hole showdown at the Atwood Country Club. With tight scores and individual excellence on display, the event featured a dramatic finish and showcased strong performances from multiple schools across the region.

Goodland and Greeley County tied atop the team leaderboard, each posting an impressive 354 — a testament to their balanced depth and competitive edge. Rawlins County followed in third at 382, with St. Francis (388), Hoxie (391), and Oberlin (400) rounding out the top six.

Top Individual Standouts

The tournament’s individual medalist was Rawlins County’s Jeb Kastens, who fired a solid 79 to claim first place. Kastens navigated the 5,949-yard, par-70 course with consistent play that anchored his team’s strong third-place finish.

Right on his heels was Braxon Mangan of Greeley County, who carded an 81, followed by his teammate Lincoln Shafer at 85, helping the Jackrabbits secure their share of the team title.

Goodland’s trio of top-10 finishers — Treighton Hoss (87), Brody Rico (87), and Clay McArthur (88) — demonstrated why the Cowboys are one of the most consistent teams in the region. Tate Douglas also contributed with a 92, giving Goodland four players in the top 15. Oberlin's charge was led by Caden Shaw, who tied for fourth with an 86, and Koen Oien, who shot 97. Both helped keep the Red Devils competitive in a packed field.

St. Francis was represented well by S. Todd (91) and Carter Matthies (96), both finishing in the top 20. Hoxie’s Ian Giancola matched Todd’s 91, while Layne Juenemann chipped in with a solid 96, keeping the Indians close to a top-three finish.

Notable Depth

Rawlins County backed up Kastens’ winning score with a 92 from Jeremiah Lare, while Bryson Rall (102) and Hunter Emahizer (109) added key scores. Greeley County showed off its depth with Elias Sherer (94) and Aaron Vestal (94) supporting Mangan and Shafer, and Brodey Grubb (103) not far behind.

Oberlin’s Guss Emigh (98) added stability to the lineup behind Shaw and Oien. Hoxie’s team effort included Brodie Tremblay (99) and Chase Meyer (105) supporting their top finishers.

With consistent contributions from top to bottom, the Rawlins County Invitational served as a strong midseason test for northwest Kansas golf squads. With several weeks left before regionals, the performances at Atwood set the tone for an exciting finish to the 2025 season.