By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights sophomore Alex Valdivia turned in an impressive performance in his first state tournament, finishing sixth in the 36-hole Class 5A event at Sand Creek Station in Newton.
Valdivia shot a 4-over-par 76 in Monday's first round and was five shots better in Round 2, carding a 1-under 71 on Tuesday to finish with a two-day total of 147, eight shots behind senior state champion Nicklaus Mason of Mill Valley (71-68).
Shawnee Heights sophomore Alex Valdivia (right) earned a sixth-place medal in the Class 5A state golf tournament at Newton Tuesday. [Submitted]
Michael Winslow of St. Thomas Aquinas finished one shot behind Mason at 140 and Kapaun Mt. Carmel's Brent Reintjes rounded out the top three at 142.
Valdivia was the highest-placing sophomore in 5A.
Alex Valdivia
Topeka West freshman Myles Alonzo ranked No. 2 among 5A city competitors at 165 (85-80) while Shawnee Heights senior Ethan Rottinhaus finished at 168 (86-82) and Seaman junior Gavin Wilhelm at 170 (86-84).
Kapaun Mt. Carmel won the team title with a 607 total while St. Thomas Aquinas finished at 609 and Maize South at 613.
Shawnee Heights and Seaman both qualified for state as teams, but did not make the 18-hole cut to compete for team championships on Tuesday.
PIVARNIK TIES FOR 18TH IN 4A
Hayden senior Trey Pivarnik claimed a state medal in the 4A state tournament at Mariah Hills Golf Course in Dodge city, tying for 18th with a two-day total of 167.
Pivarnik carded rounds of 85 and 82 while Hayden senior Marcel Pryor also qualified for state as an individual and finished at 179 (90-89).
Wellington's Deitrek Gill and Blake Saffell finished one-two individually while the Crusaders rolled to the team championship by a 32-stroke margin.
JUNIOR BLUES SIXTH IN 6A
After sweeping city, Centennial League and regional championships, Washburn Rural didn't get the showing it was looking for in the 6A state tournament, finishing sixth as a team (659) while junior Turner Depperschmidt led the Junior Blues with a tie for 23rd place at 162.
Depperschmidt finished two shots out of the top 20 with rounds of 80 and 82 while junior Luke Leonetti tied for 26th at 163 (83-80) and senior Cole Kucera tied for 28th at 164 (85-79).
Blue Valley won the team championship with a score of 612 while Tiger freshman Chance Rinkol shot a two-day total of 147 to win the individual title by one stroke over Shawnee Mission East's Thomas Gogel.
EAGLES' BADSKY 13TH IN 3A
Silver Lake freshman Bryce Badsky shot a 36-hole 161 to earn a 13th-place medal in the 3A state tournament at Hesston Golf Course.
Badsky had rounds of 79 and 82 in his first state event.
Silver Lake senior Andrew Osterhaus and Rossville senior Christopher Vanderputten also qualified for state, but didn't make the cut to advance to Tuesday's final round.
Vanderputten shot a 92 and Osterhaus a 95 in the opening round.
