Blair High School junior Easton Chaffee finished 30th with 169 strokes after 36 NSAA Class B State Golf Championship holes last week.
The state champion, William Mullin of Omaha Skutt, took 26 less May 24-25 at Scotts Bluff Country Club, while Norris won the team title with 598 swings in Scottsbluff.
“There is definitely room for improvement when I make it next year,” Chaffee said, stopping himself to add “if” only to say “no” and stick with “when.”
The Bear started each of his two championship rounds with birdies.
“Hole No. 1 is just an easy par-5,” he said. “I just hit good shots.”
From there, Chaffee shot par on eight holes May 24 before adding six more made par attempts May 25. He finished with 82 swings after his first 18 holes before adding 87 over the next 18, tying with Ogallala's Corbin Murphy.
As a whole, Scotts Bluff Country Club played different on the second day of the tournament than it did on the first. The holes were relocated on the greens and it was more windy.
“It was the first time seeing these holes,” Chaffee said of his second round.
The birdie on No. 1 was a good start, but he saw some struggles on the ones that followed.
“I just kept on the bogey train after that hole,” the junior said.
Mullin, meanwhile, carded a 68 on the first day of the tournament before adding 75 strokes on the second for 143 total. Jacob Goertz of Elkhorn Mount Michael was able to force a playoff, but the Skyhawk he was playing won the Class B title after just one extra hole.
To reach a championship level himself, Chaffee said he was looking forward to working on his swing path and tempo. The Bear would like to nail down some consistency with specific clubs through that effort.
Overall, the drive to Scottsbluff for the state championship tournament was a long one. Chaffee was not all that impressed with Chimney Rock, but felt it was still worth the trip to play in his first NSAA State Championship. He's planning on a return trip in 2023.
