By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A year after having its decade-long city championship run ended by Hayden, Washburn Rural was back in its familiar spot on Monday at Western Hills as seniors Natalie Peterson and Reece Randall posted a one-two individual finish to lead the Junior Blues to an 10-stroke team victory over the Wildcats in the city event.
Washburn Rural's girls golf team poses for a team picture after posting a 10-stroke victory in Monday's city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"It was definitely a goal that we had set before the season started,'' Rural coach Jared Goehring said of Monday's city title. "The girls had a little bit of a sour taste left in their mouth after last year and I thought they stepped up and performed well today, especially there towards the top with Natalie and Reece leading us.''
Washburn Rural senior Natalie Peterson won the individual title in Monday's city tournament with a 77, leading the way as the Junior Blues took a 10-stroke win in the team race. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Reece Randall posted a second-place finish with a 78 in Monday's city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
For the first time in her career Peterson led Washburn Rural in Monday's event, taking medalist honors with a 77 while Randall was a stroke back in second place.
"I just tried to stay on a par streak and didn't really focus on if I had a bad hole or not,'' Peterson said. "It just makes me feel comfortable to be myself and try my best.''
Washburn Rural also got a tie for sixth from sophomore Kailyn Petersen (84) and an eighth-place finish from junior Lauren Cox (87) to round out the Junior Blues' top four.
Goehring is hopeful that the city title was the start of a strong late-season push for the Junior Blues.
"We definitely have the potential,'' Goehring said. "Any of our six girls can go low for us. We've seen two career rounds by two different players (Peterson and Randall) this year on our roster so we kind of have the mentality that we want to continue to build our depth going into (Centennial) League next week, going into the Lawrence invite at Eagle Bend and then towards the end of year at Stagg Hills in regionals.''
Hayden senior Addyson Baer shot an 80 to finish third in Monday's city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden junior Izzy Glotzbach shot an 81 to finish fourth in Monday's city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden senior Addyson Baer posted a third-place with an 80 to lead the Wildcats while junior Izzy Glotzbach carded an 81 to place fourth and junior Lauren Borjon tied for sixth with an 84.
Seaman finished third in the team standings with a score of 389, led by junior Makenna Stuke, who tied Topeka West senior Alex Baxter for eighth place with an 88.
Seaman senior Jaycee Zimmerman finished 10th in the city tourney with an 89.
Actually, Washburn Rural and Peterson won a pair of titles on Monday, with the Junior Blues winning the championship in the Topeka West Invitational, which was held in conjunction with the city meet, and Peterson taking individual honors.
Emporia junior Elise Eckert was top non-city finisher in the West Invitational, placing fifth with an 82.
Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West will be right back in action on Tuesday, competing in the United Kansas Conference tournament at Lake Shawnee.
The Centennial League tournament will be held next Monday at Shawnee Country Club.
CITY TOURNAMENT
At Western Hills
Team scores
Washburn Rural 326, Hayden 336, Seaman 389, Shawnee Heights 468, Topeka High 521.
Individual results
1. Natalie Peterson, Washburn Rural, 77; 2. Reece Randall, Washburn Rural, 78; 3. Addyson Baer, Hayden, 80; 4. Izzy Glotzbach, Hayden, 81; 5. (tie) Lauren Borjon, Hayden, and Kailyn Petersen, Wasburn Rural, 84; 7. Lauren Cox, Washburn Rural, 87; 8. (tie) Alex Baxter, Topeka West, and Makenna Stuke, Seaman, 88; 10. Jaycee Zimmerman, Seaman, 89.
Other Washburn Rural -- Colbey Stead 91, Taryn Jellison 96, Ella Taggart 98, Briley Miles 99.
Other Hayden -- Brooke Johnson 91, Nora Allphin 98, Kellyn Specht 105.
Other Seaman -- Anna McLaughlin 106, Kaitlynn Frye 106, Chloe Schmidtlein 110, Molina Quintana 112.
Shawnee Heights -- Lyla Blair 99, Lauryn Valdivia 111, Mia Mattox 127, Elsie Willmann 131.
Topeka High -- Montgomerie Freel 120, Catherine Falk 126, Lauren Wadley 136, Haley Custenborder 139.
Other Topeka West -- Berlyn Kolean 117, Lily Bowen 125.
TOPEKA WEST INVITATIONAL
At Western Hills
Team scores
Washburn Rural 326, Hayden 336, Seaman 389, Blue Valley Northwest 391, Junction City 444, Shawnee Heights 468, Emporia 507, Topeka High 521.
Individual results
1. Natalie Peterson, Washburn Rural, 77; 2. Reece Randall, Washburn Rural, 78; 3. Addyson Baer, Hayden, 80; 4. Izzy Glotzbach, Hayden, 81; 5. Elise Eckert, Emporia, 82; 6. (tie) Lauren Borjon, Hayden, and Kailyn Petersen, Wasburn Rural, 84; 8. Lauren Cox, Washburn Rural, 87; 9. (tie) Alex Baxter, Topeka West, and Makenna Stuke, Seaman, 88.
