NEWTON – Former Hutchinson Community College men’s golfer Ryley Haas was one of only six players to break par on Tuesday during the first of two qualifying rounds for the 2012 Kansas Men’s Amateur Championship at Sand Creek Station in Newton.
Haas, a native of Colby who played at HCC in 2011 and 2012, is very familiar with Sand Creek Station. During his sophomore season with the Blue Dragons, Haas played four tournaments at Sand Creek Station, including the 2012 NJCAA Championships in May.
During Tuesday’s first round under hot and windy conditions, Haas carded a 1-under 71 to tie two others for fourth place in the field of 156 trying to qualify for the 64 spots available in the match-play bracket, which begins on Thursday.
Haas was 3-over par through 13 holes, but closed with a flourish. The former Blue Dragon had consecutive birdies on Nos. 14, 15, 16 and 17 before finishing with a par on No. 18.
Haas trails round 1 leader Harry Higgs of Overland Park by five strokes. Haas tees off at 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday.
A current Blue Dragon golfer is also in the hunt to make the field of 64.
Augusta’s Trey Hayden is tied for 30th after shooting a round of 75 on Tuesday. Hayden had a steady day with the exception of one hole. Hayden took a quadruple-bogey nine on the par-5 second hole. He recovered nicely, though, carding 16 pars and a birdie on No. 14 to stay in the hunt.
Hayden tees off at 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday.
One other former Blue Dragon golfer was in the field on Tuesday. Craig Howell, who played at Hutchinson in 2010 and 2011, is tied for 143rd after a round of 85.
(HCC Sports Information)
