Blair Oaks freshman Tanner Elder was in position right until the end.
Unfortunately for Elder, no one was going to catch Justin Wrozier of Lutheran: St. Peters. The senior fired a 71 Tuesday to take the Class 2 state golf championship with a two-round 145.
Elder, who was tied with Wrozier after Monday's first-round, finished tied for second after shooting an 81 at Fremont Hills Golf Club in Nixa. He finished with a two-round total of 155.
"I thought he did really well for a freshman," Blair Oaks coach Leroy Bernskoetter said. "Conditions got tough (Tuesday). It's two long days. It was a whole new experience for him."
Things turned for good on the 12th hole when Wrozier birdied and Elder had a tough three-putt for a double bogey.
Bernskoetter said that hole seemed to fuel Wrozier who shot a 1-under 34 on the back nine. Wrozier finished third at the state tournament last season.
Elder finished in a tie with Ian Barnes of Licking, Daymond Dollens of Centralia and Kody Ettinger of Cuba.
"I hit the ball a lot better (Monday) and putted really well," Elder said. "(Tuesday) I couldn't hit any iron shots or putts."
Blair Oaks' Kory Franks and Blake Lammers of Southern Boone finished in a tie for 10th at 157. Both shot 80 on Tuesday. Walker Kesterson shot an 80 Tuesday to finish with a 157 and a tie for 11th.
Elder, Franks, Lammers and Kesterson all earned all-state honors.
Ryan Doerhoff of Eugene shot an 83 Tuesday to finish at 163 in a tie for 23rd. His teammate, Drew Geritz, shot an 85 to finish at 170 in a tie for 48th.
Fatima's Connor Muenks finished in a tie for 46th after firing an 81 Tuesday for a total of 170.
Lutheran: St. Peters won the team title with 635. Lamar (651) was second and Barstow (662) was third.
Class 2 State Tourney
AT FREMONT HILLS COUNTRY CLUB, NIXA
YARDAGE: 6,311; PAR 71
Final Team Scores
- Lutheran: St Peters 6357; 2. Lamar 651; 3. Barstow 662; 4. Bishop LeBlond 666; 5. Whitfield 671; 6. (tie) Mount Vernon and Macon 701; 9. Palmyra 715.
All-State Individuals
- Justin Wrozier, Lutheran: St. Peters, 145; 2. (tie) Tanner Elder, Blair Oaks (74-81), Ian Barnes, Licking, Daymond Dollens, Centralia and Kody Ettinger, Cuba, 155. 6. (tie) Bradley Jumper, Seneca, Landon Maberry, Lamar and Sean Mulkey, Ash Grove 156; 9. (tie) Kory Franks, Blair Oaks (77-80) and Blake Lammers, Southern Boone (77-80) 157. 11. Tripper Jensen, Mount Vernon and Walker Kesterson, Southern Boone (82-76), 158; 14. Logan McArthur, Lamar, Eric Meindl, Lutheran: St. Peters, Austin Ruediger, Hermann and Benjamin Wiles, Springfield Catholic, 159.
Also: 22. (tie) Ryan Doerhoff, Eugene (80-83) 163; 45. (tie) Connor Muenks, Fatima (88-81) 169; 47. (tie) Drew Geritz, Eugene (85-85) 170.