The Cougars led Indian Hills by four strokes and two-time defending state champion Oakwood by six strokes going to the back nine.
Oakwood finished with a 309, while KR shot a 315 to make the state tourney for the first time since 2002. Alter was third with a 321. Indian Hill and Shawnee were next with 324s.
“Oakwood went really hot on the back nine and we went really bad. If we shoot what we normally shoot on the back nine, we would have won,” said Cougars coach Chris White. “The last few years, whomever comes out of this districts wins state. If we shoot 315 twice next week, I like my chances on winning state.”
Senior Clay Portz placed fourth with a 74, senior Hunter Clark (76) was sixth, senior Luke Schlicher shot an 82 and Seth Fearn finished with an 83. Schlicher is a two-time state qualifier as he placed second in the districts in 2010 with a 76.
Engle hit 13 of 18 greens and used a solid punting game to advance to his first state tournament with a round of 71.
“Clark started the day with a birdie and did not have to scrambled too much today. He made it look easy,” said Braves coach Steve Tincher. “I think he has a great chance to become the school’s first state champion.”
Also for the Braves, senior Derek Tincher shot an 81, sophomore Evan Lyons had an 82 and senior Zach Walden had a 90.
Greenon junior Brandon Mamer, who shot a 34 on the front nine, finished sixth with a 76. Senior Sam Klarer shot an 82 and seniors Levi Wiskirchen and Seth Currier had 99s. The Knights were 11th (356).
Northwestern senior Tyler Marton shot a 38 on the back nine to place eighth with a 78. The state tourney is at North Star Golf Resort in Sunbury on Oct. 14 and 15.