By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights senior Alex Valdivia added a couple more items to his growing resume Monday, capturing the United Kansas Conference golf championship for the second year in a row and earning back-to-back league Player of the Year honors.
Shawnee Heights senior Alex Valdivia putts for the UKC individual title, his second straight, Monday at Village Greens. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
UKC player of the year Alex Valdivia poses for a picture with UKC co-coach of the year Rick Rineberg of Seaman after Valdivia won the individual title and Rineberg's Vikings won the league team crown. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
The All-UKC golf selections pose for a picture at the conclusion of Mondays UKC meet at Village Greens. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Valdivia, a Washburn University golf commit, shot a 3-over-par 75 at the conference tournament at Village Greens Golf Course in Meriden.
He held off De Soto’s Will Kerr by a stroke on the final hole.
New to the conference this year, the Seaman Vikings took home the team title, shooting a collective 325, led by junior Zach Weir, who tied for third in the tournament with a 77.
“It’s pretty special,” said Seaman coach Rick Rineberg. “We’ve been growing this year. We’ve been gaining momentum as the year has gone on. Our guys shot some nice scores today and I’m really proud of them.
“Zach is kind of our returning vet. He’s been battling demons with his swing this year, as people can. So it was really nice to see him put it all together today.”
“I was confident that I could finish up there, but I needed to just put it all together and have a positive attitude. That really helps me,” Weir said. “I knew I could shoot 77. I haven’t yet in a tournament, this was my best round of the year. It all came together today.”
In his third season leading the Vikings, Rineberg was voted UKC co-Coach of the Year. His team consists of no seniors. Daniel Biggs shot 79 and Bradley Williamson finished with an 81 for the Vikings.
“We’re all fired up,” said Weir. “We’re good friends. It feels good to win (our first tournament) of the year. To win the league feels great. We’re going to have to work hard to keep it for next year.”
Tying Weir for third was Topeka West’s Myles Alonzo, who was plagued by some bad luck.
Alonzo was paired with Valdivia and battled the defending league champ to the final hole despite playing most of the afternoon without a critical pitching wedge, which broke mid-round.
“Today didn’t go quite as I had planned,” Alonzo said. “I use that club on every hole, so I was just picking and choosing what to use. I’m sure it cost me, but it’s alright.”
Despite the setback, Alonzo trailed Valdivia by a single stroke on the final hole. A three-putt foiled his bid for the championship.
“(Valdivia) gave me a chance, but I just couldn’t drain that par putt,” Alonzo said.
“I didn’t want to leave anything out there trying to play too safe,” Valdivia said. “I definitely wanted to go for it and put a good score up and make them do something. I didn’t want to be the one making mistakes. I wanted to make them try to beat me.”
Shawnee Heights finished third in the tournament with a 333, a stroke behind De Soto. Topeka West turned in a final score of 409.
With just a few weeks left of his high school career, Valdivia hopes to fine tune his game for the stretch run.
“I feel after today like I definitely have some things to work on,” the Shawnee Heights senior said. “I’m hoping to work on some things and get ready for city and regionals and state. I know I can win just about any tournament if I play the best that I can. I think it’s just adjusting things a little bit the next few weeks.”
UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
At Village Greens
Team scores
Seaman 325, De Soto 332, Shawnee Heights 333, Basehor-Linwood 341, Lansing 345, Piper 364, Leavenworth 398, Topeka West 409, Turner 538
Individual results
Valdivia, Shawnee Heights, 75; 2. Kerr, De Soto, 76; 3. (tie) Alonzo, Topeka West, Weir, Seaman, 77; 5. Allen, Lansing, 78; 6. Biggs, Seaman, 79; 7. Jones, Shawnee Heights, 80; 8. Williamson, Seaman, 81; 9 (tie) Jackson, Lansing, Youngblood, Basehor-Linwood, and Atkinson, De Soto, 83; 12 (tie) Smith, Basehor-Linwood, and Spurlock, De Soto, 85.
Other Seaman – Flanagan 88, Mack 90, Gentry 92.
Other Shawnee Heights – Zerger 88, Lincoln 90, Hohman 90, Holladay 96.
Other Topeka West – Lane 97, Locker 109, Artega-Solis 126.
ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Valdivia, Shawnee Heights; Kerr De Soto; Weir, Seaman; Alonzo, Topeka West; Allen, Lansing; Biggs, Seaman.
ALL UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM:
Jones, Shawnee Heights; Williamson, Seaman; Jackson, Lansing; Youngblood, Basehor-Linwood; Atkinson, De Soto; Smith, Basehor-Linwood.
