By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Centennial League girls golf championship trophy is back in a familiar home.
After winning 10 straight league titles from 2010-19, Washburn Rural finished second to Manhattan in the 2020 league meet.
But the Junior Blues started a new streak on Monday at Western Hills Golf Course in decisive fashion, with all six Rural players placing between second and a tie for seventh en route to a 43-stroke victory over runner-up Emporia.
Senior Kaitlyn Crough took second place individually with a 75 while junior Avery Scott was third with a 76, senior Aliyah North tied for fourth with a 77 and juniors Annika Peterson and Mallory Nelson and senior McKenna Merrick all tied for seventh with 84s.
"It was definitely a goal of ours since the season ended last year to make sure that we took the league trophy back to Washburn Rural and accomplish a team goal that I know these seniors wanted very badly,'' Rural coach Jared Goehring said.
Washburn Rural's girls golf team poses for a picture with the Centennial League trophy after winning Monday's league meet by 43 strokes. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Goehring said he was pleased with the Junior Blues consistency Monday.
"We had three in the 70s today and two last Monday at city,'' Goehring said. "We're still looking to be consistently good at the top of our lineup. The middle of our lineup has been solid all season and now the players towards the bottom of our lineup are starting to pick it up, too, where we can count on those girls for a score as well.''
Washburn Rural senior Kaitlyn Crough finished second individually with a 75 as the Junior Blues won the Centennial League team title by 43 strokes. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Emporia junior Avary Eckert shot a 74 to edge Crough for individual medalist honors, leading the Spartans to their runner-up finish.
Seaman was without reigning city champ and 2019 league champ Lois Deeter due to illness, but the Viking still finished third as a team as junior Aspen Burghart placed 11th with a 90 and sophomore Avery Samuelson was 12th with a 91.
Sophomore Avery Grunert paced fourth-place Hayden with a tie for 13th with a 93.
Topeka High did not field a full team, but sophomore Avery Zimmerman shot an 81 to finish sixth individually for the Trojans.
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE GIRLS GOLF
Team scores
Washburn Rural 312, Emporia 355, Seaman 368, Manhattan 373, Hayden 391.
Individual results
1. Avary Eckert, Emporia, 74; 2. Kaitlyn Crough, Washburn Rural, 75; 3. Avery Scott, Washburn Rural, 76; 4. (tie) Olivia Eckert, Emporia, and Aliyah North, Washburn Rural, 77; 6. Avery Zimmerman, Topeka High, 81; 7. (tie) Annika Peterson, Washburn Rural; Mallory Nelson, Washburn Rural, and McKenna Merrick, Washburn Rural, 84; 10. Emily Wuggazer, Manhattan, 89; 11. Aspen Burgardt, Seaman, 90; 12. Avery Samuelson, Seaman, 91; 13. (tie) Ella Fessler, Emporia; Avery Grunert, Hayden, and Jade Thomas, Seaman, 93; 16. (tie) Rylee Wisdom, Manhattan; Riley Adams, Seaman, and Lexi Smith, Manhattan, 94.
Other Seaman -- 19. Madyson Hardesty 95; 34. Anna McLaughlin 118.
Hayden -- 21. (tie) Ava Teply 98; 24. (tie) Kate Roeder and Kyleigh Johnson, 100; 31. Hannah Reynoldson 107.
Other Topeka High -- 24 (tie) Celena Gordon 100; 35. Keely Rogers 120.
Topeka West -- 24. (tie) Alex Baxter 100; 28. Chase Kell 105.
