Garden City contingent in contention at Kansas Amateur Match Play Championships

Garden City, KS (westernkansasnews.com)-Garden City dentist Grant Vollertsen knew he had to get off to a good start on Tuesday. 

“It’s important, especially on the first day,” he said on Monday. 

Things didn’t work out exactly how he planned, but Vollertsen put himself in prime position for one of the 64 spots in match play following a first-round 69. 

Vollertsen parred the first hole before a double bogey on two and a bogey on three threatened to derail his day. But he bounced back nicely-saving par on four, six and seven while sinking birdies on five, six and nine. 

His back nine was even more impressive. 

Vollertsen played bogey free, and drained three birdies on his way to a 3-under. He is four shots back of Salina’s Brooks Brown, who shot a first-round 64 and leads by four strokes. 

Garden City High School’s Taylor Larsen is tied for fifth at 1-under, while high school wrestling coach Carlos Prieto finished at even par. Shawn Audrain is 1-over, while financial adviser Sean Thayer, who won this event back in 1999, finished the day 3-over. 

Other Notable scores

Logan Durst-Garden City +4

Sion Audrain-Garden City +8

Connor Schultz-Garden City +9