House of champions: Topeka's Alonzo brothers on a hot streak
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's been a good couple of weeks for Topeka's golfing Alonzo brothers.
Former Topeka West star Addison Alonzo celebrated a second straight national team championship with Hutchinson Community College on May 13 and got back to Topeka just in time to cheer on younger brother Myles, a West sophomore, who captured a Class 5A individual regional title last Monday at Lake Shawnee.
Addison Alonzo (left) recently won a second straight national golf championship with Hutchinson Community College while his younger brother, Myles, is coming off a Class 5A regional championship for Topeka West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I am very proud,'' Addison said. "Two brothers, two champions. It's just really hard to find words.''
Addison Alonzo carved out an impressive high school career for Richard Mariani's Chargers and Myles is picking up where his older brother left off.
As a freshman Myles was the individual runner-up in the Centennial League tournament and placed third in the city tournament and third at regionals, earning TopSports.news All-Shawnee County first-team recognition.
This spring he posted a tie for fifth in the Centennial League and was seventh in the city meet before winning his regional title in dramatic fashion.
Alonzo three-putted on his final hole of regulation to end up tied with Shawnee Heights standout Alex Valdivia for medalist honors with a 76.
"I should have chipped that putt (on his 18th hole), Myles said. "I had a lot more fringe in front of me and I hit it and it bounced it off the line and it just started rolling off and I was like, 'Oh no.' ''
But Myles was able to shake off that disappointment and holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to take the win.
"You just have to focus on your shot only,'' Alonzo said. "Don't remember anything and just grind out your own score.''
Addison, meanwhile, is still basking in the glow of Hutchinson's title repeat and ended the 72-hole event with his best round off the tournament, a 2-under-par 70 as the Blue Dragons rolled to a 20-stroke victory in the team race at Odessa (Texas) Country Club.
"We won by 20 shots, it was pretty amazing,'' Addison said. "It's still crazy, even a few days later.''
Now Addison, who finished as high as fourth at state for the Chargers before having his senior season wiped out by COVID-19, will be rooting for Myles to earn family bratting rights of his own Monday and Tuesday in the 5A state meet at Winfield's Quail Ridge Golf Course.
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Seaman junior Bethany Druse is the Shawnee County leader in the girls 800 and 1,600 meters. [File photo/TSN]
