After Montgomery County seniors Keenan James and Logan Hutcheson earned all-state medals at the Class 2 state golf tournament on May 17 at Columbia Country Club, they got a special visit from a former MCHS standout, Aubrey Nelson.

Nelson was the last MCHS player to receive all-state notice in golf, placing ninth with a 160 in 2018. After James and Hutcheson got their medals put around their necks, the Wildcats now have three players who earned all-state honors in program history.

“I’m glad that Aubrey showed up for all of the days,” Hutcheson said. “He was sitting and watching. It really made me feel like there was somebody there who knows what’s going on. He made me keep my head up even if I had a bad shot. I think it was great that he was able to make it in these two days.”

James finished in a tie for 11th with Monroe City’s Kyle Hays with a two-day total of 170. Hutcheson finished in a tie for 15th with Devun Salazar of El Dorado Springs with a 172. It’s the first time MCHS had two golfers place at the state tournament in the same year.

“It’s pretty cool,” James said. “It doesn’t happen very often. When it does, you have to enjoy the moment.”

Hutcheson said he was happy that he and James wrapped up their high school golf careers with all-state medals. They joined the MCHS golf program when they were freshmen.

“I think it’s a great thing that he and I got to enjoy the experience and show it together,” Hutcheson said. “I think it’s big for the community.”

James and Hutcheson competed at state for the second year in a row. Last year, James came up one place short of earning an all-state medal, placing 16th.

“I feel like coming in one place short is a bigger thing than coming in first place because there was one stroke that I could have gotten back and I would have placed at state,” James said. “This year, I really wanted to place to make up for how bad I played last year.”

After the first day of the tournament, Hutcheson and James were in contention for an all-state medal. Hutcheson was in 10th with an 84 and James was in a seven-way tie for 14th with an 86.

James finished with an 84 on the second day. He made shots from the rough area twice in the back nine, the first was at hole No. 11 and the other was at hole No. 18.

“The front nine was a little rough, but I brought it back on the back nine and shot four strokes better,” James said. “I think that really helped me move up in the placings. I think I was in 25th before I started the back nine and I ended up in 11th.”

Hutcheson shot an 88 on the second day to finish in the top 15. Last year, he finished 30th with a 183.

“I made a birdie on hole No. 6,” Hutcheson said. “That really motivated me and that gave me a chance. I’m glad I came in with the score I did.”

Hutcheson and James were glad the state tournament was held in Columbia this year. A year ago, they made the three-hour drive to Bolivar to compete at state.

“It’s a lot better than last year because when I got 16th place, I was really regretting the drive home because I was tired the whole time,” James said. “Now that I got 11th this year, I think the drive home is a little bit sweeter and it’s only an hour away.”