SPRINGFIELD - Blair Oaks' Jake Closser opened the Class 2 state championships Monday by shooting a 14-over 86 at Rivercut Golf Course.
Closser, the Falcons' only state qualifier, is one of four golfers tied for 23rd place out of 91 golfers. The top 15 players receive all-state honors.
St. Pius X: Kansas City holds the lead in the team standings, posting a 341 in the first round. Whitfield is second with a 344, followed by Father Tolton's 355 for third place. Palmyra and Kennett are tied for fourth with a 360.
Eldon is sixth with a 361, while California is seventh with a 372.
California's Jordon Geiser led all area golfers Monday by shooting an 8-over 80. He is in a four-way tie for seventh place.
Aidan Wells led the Mustangs with an 83, which has him in a tie for 12th place. Eldon's Austin Kostelnik is tied for 34th with an 89 and Logan Schultz is tied for 38th with a 90.
Linn's Alek Peters is tied for 15th place with an 84.
Other area golfers in the top 50 after the first round include: Versailles' Ori Bartlett, tied for 31st with an 88; Linn's Kole Peters, tied for 38th with a 90; and Fatima's Cole Lehmen, tied for 45th with a 91.
St. Pius X: Kansas City's Cole Elling holds the first-round lead after shooting a 2-under 70. Maplewood-Richmond Heights' Kal Kolar is second with a 74.