Three years ago, Karter Reagan’s high school golf career at Montgomery County High School didn’t get off to a good start.

“I started out in my freshman year and I was not playing very good,” Reagan said. “(Coach Cody) Hasekamp thought I was going to be like my brother (Keaton) in my freshman year, but I was not at all like my brother.”

This year, Reagan has wrapped up an outstanding high school golf career with two trips to the state tournament and three all-Eastern Missouri Conference awards.

The MCHS senior qualified for state competition for the second year in a row after shooting a 77 at the Class 2, District 2 tournament at Norwoods Golf Club in Hannibal. He finished in a three-way tie for sixth with Palmyra’s Skeeter Kroeger and North Callaway’s Anthony Russell. He was the Wildcats’ lone state qualifier.

Reagan was scheduled to compete at the Class 2 state tournament on May 18-19 at Bogey Creek Golf Club in Farmington. It’s the sixth year in a row the Wildcats had a state qualifier.

Reagan became the first MCHS player since Keenan James and Logan Hutcheson (2021 and 2022) to qualify for state in back-to-back years. His older brother, Keaton, competed at state in 2023.

Hasekamp, who took over head coaching duties in 2023, has been at the state tournament in all four years as coach.

“I’ve been incredibly blessed to have a couple of really good golfing families,” Hasekamp said. “Three of my four years, I got to take a Reagan and that helps out.”

Karter Reagan was a freshman in Hasekamp’s first year as coach. Hasekamp remembered that Reagan had some tough competition for a varsity spot. He had to compete with his brother as well as a junior and two seniors.

“I had hopes that we were going to sneak him in at the tail end of the varsity lineup, but it took a while to get used to that high school style of golf,” Hasekamp said.

The next year, Reagan earned second-team all-EMO honors and came up three strokes from a state-qualifying bid. In his junior year, Reagan helped his team win a conference title and placed 25th at the state tournament. This year, he led a varsity lineup that had two seniors and a junior.

“Last year, we won conference, which was pretty good and I made it to state, which I really liked,” Reagan said. “I really liked that group of guys who ended last year with. This year was fun. We didn’t win conference, but we were pretty close. We made it back to to districts. I shot really good at districts. I’m really happy with how I shot at districts.”

At this year’s districts, Reagan came up just two strokes shy from his career-best 75 he shot at the Missouri Military Academy tournament earlier in the season. Last year, he fired an 82 at districts to advance to the state round in Sedalia.

“The conditions were great,” Reagan said. “The course was amazing. The greens were rolling good. I really couldn’t putt, but I made up for it.”

Rex Mauzy of Elsberry won the district title with a 69. At one point in the tournament, Reagan battled with Mauzy for first place.

“With about 14 or so holes into the day, Karter was tied for first,” Hasekamp said. “Rex became a pretty good friend of Karter’s, but he’s also a kid we admired because we have seen him quite a bit during the season. He had a couple of bad holes. Karter tied it up at the top.”

Reagan said he struggled in the last three holes, knocking him out of the district championship race.

“At hole 18, I got a birdie and I missed my putt for eagle, which I would have loved,” said Reagan, who started tournament play at hole No. 4. “Going into hole 1, on the last three holes, I went par, bogey and double bogey. It kind of put me a little bit behind on where I wanted to be at, but I can’t win them all.”

Reagan isn’t planning to continue his golf career at the college level, but he will continue to play the sport for leisure.

“It’s going to suck, but it’s been a good stretch for me,” Reagan said. “I know it’s time to pass my skills onto the next.” 

Reagan is the fifth MCHS senior in the last four years to compete at the state tournament.