By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman girls golf is the three-time defending United Kansas Conference champion and has produced multiple Class 5A state medalists over the years, but entering Monday's City Championships at Western Hills the Vikings had never won a city team title in the 13-year history of the event.
Julie McLaughlin's Vikings made up for lost time on Monday as senior individual champion Elise Eckert powered Seaman to a 14-stroke victory over Hayden (341-355) while 11-time city champ Washburn Rural finished third (361).
Seaman girls golf poses for a team picture Monday at Western Hills after winning its first-ever city team championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"This is pretty special, this is something,'' McLaughlin said of the city title. "I had hoped last year we would make a run for it and we just came out and didn't play very well.
"We've come in second a few times and that was exciting, that was great, but this is something I've wanted to see them do for a long time now.''
Seaman senior Elise Eckert shot a two-under-par 68 to win the city girls golf title by eight strokes Monday at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Eckert, a three-time 5A state medalist at Emporia before transferring to Seaman this fall, shot a sizzling two-under-par 68 to take the city individual title by an eight-stroke margin over Hayden senior Lauren Borjon.
"I felt pretty comfortable all day,'' Eckert said. "I started off my round with a double (bogey), so it was kind of rough, but I feel like I was able to quickly pick it up and get myself back in competition.''
Eckert said McLaughlin pointed out to the Vikngs that Seaman had never won the city meet, which made Monday's title run special.
"My coach went over that in the van before we came here,'' Eckert said. "It feels great to help them out with that. I like that I am able to be a part of this team, and with some good girls, too.''
Eckert said she was able to fit in quickly with her new team this fall.
"It didn't really take long because I knew most of the girls beforehand,'' Eckert said. "I had played with them before and they just really accepted me and it was amazing.''
Makenna Stuke finished fifth with an 89 to help Seaman win its first city team title Monday at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Vikings also got top-10 finishes from Makenna Stuke, fifth with an 89, Chloe Schmidtlein, seventh with a 91, and Kaitlynn Frye, who tied for eighth with a 93.
Hayden senior Lauren Borjon shot a 76 Monday to finish second in the city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden senior Izzy Glotzbach shot an 82 Monday to finish third in the city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Borjon's 76 was good enough for her second career runnerup finish in the city meet while her Hayden senior teammate, Izzy Glotzbach, finished third with an 82. Borjon also finished second in 2023, leading the Wildcats to the city team championship.
Senior Lauren Cox finished fourth with an 85 to lead Washburn Rural in Monday's city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Third-place Washburn Rural was led by senior Lauren Cox, who placed fourth with an 85, while Kailyn Petersen was sixth with a 90 and Briley Miles and Ella Taggart tied for eighth with 93s.
Seaman also won the championship in the Topeka West Invitational, held in conjunction with the city tournament, by a five-stroke margin over Baldwin.
Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West will compete in next Monday's UKC meet at Shawnee Country Club while Hayden and Washburn Rural will compete in next Monday's Centennial League tournament at Junction City.
TOPEKA CITY GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Western Hills
Team scores
Seaman 341, Hayden 355, Washburn Rural 361, Shawnee Heights 471.
Individual results
1. Elise Eckert, Seaman, 68; 2. Lauren Borjon, Hayden, 76; 3. Izzy Glotzbach, Hayden, 82; 4. Lauren Cox, Washburn Rural, 85; 5. Makenna Stuke, Seaman, 89; 6. Kailyn Petersen, Washburn Rural, 90; 7. Chloe Schmidtlein, Seaman, 91; 8. (tie) Kaitlynn Frye, Seaman; Briley Miles, Washburn Rural, and Ella Taggart, Washburn Rural, 93.
Other Seaman -- Molly Quintana, 105.
Other Hayden -- Brooke Johnson 96, Avery Becker 101, Morgan Johnson 103, Kellyn Specht 106.
Other Washburn Rural -- Taryn Jellison 96, Peyton Merrick 104.
Shawnee Heights -- Lauren Valdivia 99, Makenna Bryant 112, Mia Mattox 129, Elsie Willman 131.
Topeka West -- Berlyn Kolean 107, Lily Bowen 120.
TOPEKA WEST INVITATIONAL
Team scores
Seaman 341, Baldwin 346, Hayden 355, Washburn Rural 361, De Soto 391, Shawnee Heights 471.
Individual results
1. Elise Eckert, Seaman, 68; 2. Lauren Borjon, Hayden, 76; 3. Peyton Wright, Baldwin, 77; 4. Izzy Glotzbach, Hayden, 82; 5. (tie) Lauren Cox, Washburn Rural, Jada Sansome, 85; 5. Makenna Stuke, Seaman, 89; 6. Kailyn Petersen, Washburn Rural, 90; 7. Chloe Schmidtlein, Seaman, 91; 8. (tie) Kaitlynn Frye, Seaman; Briley Miles, Washburn Rural, and Ella Taggart, Washburn Rural, 93.
