TIPTON’S DYNASTY

BOLIVAR — It might have been one of the most exciting and unpredictable state golf championships in recent memory.

Tipton senior Trey Allison sank an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole of the Silo Ridge and Country Club on Tuesday to finish with a two-day total of 152, which was good enough to earn a share of the Class 1 individual state championship.

Allison split the title with Windsor junior Josh Sadler and Newburg’s J.D. Nash.

Not only did Allison share the title of state champion, but the Tipton Cardinals chalked up their fourth state championship in six years by defeating Lee’s Summit Community Christian by 29 strokes.

Allison became the first person in Tipton history to win the state championship and the only person in Tipton history to be a part of three state championship teams.

“It’s like the very first (championship). Every championship is a little bit different,” said Tipton coach Danny Dick. “The memories will be good. It’s one of those deals that when it’s all over with you get a smile on your face that doesn’t come off for a couple days.”

The Cardinals turned in another consistent performance from its five golfers.

While the team title came as little surprise after Tipton opened up a 23- stroke lead after the first day, the focus shifted to the individual chase for the championship.

Heading into Tuesday’s final round, Nash stood with a single stroke lead over Allison and a two-stroke lead over Sadler.

Both Allison and Sadler mounted comebacks to tie Nash for the title.

For Allison, the front nine proved to be the deciding factor as the senior finished even-par on the first nine holes.

Nash eagled the fifth hole but ran into some trouble on the eighth.

Nash’s drive landed in the right-side fairway bunker. His second shot flew out of the bunker and out-of-bounds, costing him a two-stroke penalty and opened the door for Allison.

On the back nine, both golfers went cold. Nash struggled with his putting and Allison his driving.

Allison only hit a handful of fairways off the tee and Nash could not get a putt to fall.

“I shot even-par on the front and kind of shot myself in the foot a few times on the back,” said Allison. “Usually my driver is my go-to club when I want to hit something straight.”

Despite Allison’s troubles off the tee, the senior kept within striking distance on the final hole, a hole in which he needed a birdie.

On the par-5 18th tee box, Allison pulled his drive just left and landed in the rough, right behind a tree.

Instead of reaching for an iron to punch the ball into the fairway, Allison reached for a fairway wood. He struck the ball perfectly and the ball rolled to the front of the green.

“It’s awesome,” Allison said. “I was kind of worried when I was over there by the trees. I just had to play it like a par-4 from there and hope to get birdie.”

Allison finished with a 6-over 78.

To make Allison’s victory even sweeter, the Cardinals posted a team score of 330.

David Romig shot a 3-over 75 on Tuesday and slipped into a tie for seventh place, giving him all-state honors.

The players with the top 15 scores make the all-state team.

“I’m really excited. I played a lot better today then I did yesterday,” said Romig who shot a first-round 84. “I hit the ball well both days. The difference today was just putting. The seniors get to go out with a state title, it doesn’t get any better then that.”

Noah Kelley finished up with a round of 87, giving him a two-day total of 169, and a tie for 18th place.

Andrew Huhmann shot a 90 on Tuesday for a two-day total of 177.

Isaac Garber finished with a two-day total of 182 after his second-round 95.