Jack McNearney and Keegan Feder are both two-time state qualifiers for the Park Hill South golf team and the duo will be leading the charge for the talented squad.
In the biggest class a season ago, Feder finished in 62nd place and McNearney ended in 69th place after tying in 62nd place with 160 strokes at state in 2021. Once again in Class 5, Park Hill South will look to continue to have success on the course.
“We should be very competitive in our matches and tournaments,” Park Hill South head golf coach Tracy Mangels said. “We have returning players that have had some success and a good group of other guys that work really hard and can push the players ahead of them.”
Lucas Nichols will join McNearney as a returning senior letterwinner – with Feder being a junior – and sophomore Drew Hurley also brings back varsity experience. Drew Kobayashi, John Rieger, Matthew Parke and Clayton Wichman will be looking to fill up the lineup this spring.
“I would say the four returning letterwinners would have the nod to start and I could put the next four players in a qualifying round, take the winner of that and feel good about our lineup. I feel that our team has a good chance this year to make it out if everything goes well at the district tournament,” Mangels said.
Park Hill South will be leaning on its top-4 returners to bring experience, along with their skills and talent. Rockhurst and Liberty North are the two teams that qualified for state out of the Panthers’ district last year and both look to be the strongest competition for them this year.
“We have to play well on the right day. Golf is difficult and if you can play well at districts, everyone in our lineup could qualify for the state tournament,” Mangels said.