By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The battle for the top spots in Monday's Class 5A boys golf regional couldn't have been any closer, with Topeka West's Myles Alonzo and Seaman taking individual and team honors by the narrowest of margins.
Alonzo, a sophomore, canned a 30-foot putt on the first playoff hole to take medalist honors over Shawnee Heights junior Alex Valdivia while Seaman and Heights tied for first place in the team race at 333 before the Vikings prevailed as a result of a lower fifth score.
Topeka West sophomore Myles Alonzo took medalist honors in Monday's Class 5A golf regional at Lake Shawnee, winning on the first playoff hole. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West sophomore Myles Alonzo is congratulated by older brother Addison and Charger coach Richard Mariani after winning the individual title in Monday's Class 5A golf regional with a long birdie putt on the first playoff hole. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Both Alonzo and city champion Valdivia shot 6-over-par 76s to tie for first place before engaging in a brief but memorable one-hole playoff.
After encountering problems early on the playoff (No. 10) hole, Valdivia put pressure on Alonzo when he holed a 35-foot putt for par, but Alonzo one-upped his city rival when he sunk his long-range birdie putt.
"I just really dissected that putt and made sure I was making it because I watched Alex drill his putt and it was unbelievable,'' Alonzo said. "I was like, 'Man, he drilled it and I've really got to look over this putt now.' I picked a spot in front of my ball and I just hit it and before I knew it, I looked up and it was in.''
Alonzo, playing in the same group with Valdivia, opened the door when he three-putted on his final hole of regulation and Valdivia holed a shot from about 75 yards out to force the playoff.
Alonzo, third at regionals as a freshman, said Monday's win gave him a boost of confidence heading into next week's state meet at Winfield.
"Hopefully I can win state, that's what I'm going for,'' Alonzo said. "I'm going to try my hardest.''
Valdivia was happy that he was able to force the playoff, but said Monday wasn't one of his best days.
"I did everything I could the last two holes we played but pretty much anything that could go wrong went wrong today,'' Valdivia said. "It was not a good day. I missed a couple of real short putts and wasn't striking the ball well. I really wasn't doing anything well for most of the round.''
Seaman's golf team poses with its Class 5A regional championship trophy Monday at Lake Shawnee. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Gavin Wilhelm tied for third place with a 78 to lead regional team champion Seaman, which also got an eighth-place finish from freshman freshman Bradley Williamson (84), a ninth from senior Tim Biggs (85) and a 10th-place showing from sophomore Zach Weir (86).
The Vikings ended up deadlocked with Heights for the title, but took the win on senior Jake Moss's 90.
"It was a scary day for sure,'' Seaman coach Rick Rineberg said. "There was a couple of kids that really came up big for us. Brad Williamson shot an 84 today and I think that's his personal record, so when you PR at regionals, that's pretty awesome.
"The other kid that I really give kudos to is Jake Moss. He played bad on his front nine and I talked him at his turn and I said, 'Jake, just go make a score, make the turn, salvage the round,' and his round is what ended up winning it for us. I'm proud of Gavin, I'm proud of all the kids.''
Shawnee Heights junior Aiden Jones finished sixth with an 80 while Tyler Lincoln was 11th with an 88 and junior Tanner Zerger tied for 12th with an 89.
The 5A state tournament will be played next Monday and Tuesday at Winfield.
CLASS 5A REGIONAL GOLF
At Lake Shawnee
Team scores
Seaman 333 (first on fifth score), Shawnee Heights 333, De Soto 343, Basehor-Linwood 357, Piper 369, Lansing 378, Leavenworth 471.
Individual results
1. Alonzo, Topeka West, 76 (won playoff); 2. Valdivia, Shawnee Heights, 76; 3. (tie) Wilhelm, Seaman; Bakerink, De Soto, and Strah, Basehor-Linwood, 78; 6. Jones, Shawnee Heights, 80; 7. Baechle, De Soto, 83; 8. Williamson, Seaman, 84; 9. Biggs, Seaman, 85; 10. Weir, Seaman, 86.
Other Seaman -- 14. (tie) Moss, 90; 27. (tie) Tenpenny, 96.
Other Shawnee Heights -- 11. Lincoln, 88; 12. (tie) Zerger, 89; 17. Crawford, 91; 33. Hohman, 101.
Other Topeka West -- 40. Schimmel, 117.
RURAL POSTS RUNNER-UP FINISH
Washburn Rural qualified for next week's Class 6A state tournament at Dodge City with a second-place regional finish Monday at Rolling Meadows.
Senior Turner Depperschmidt tied for third with a 77 to pace the Junior Blues, who shot a four-man score of 321 to finish second to Manhattan (311).
Senior Giles Frederickson tied for sixth with 79 while junior Andrew Burdett tied for 10th with an 82 and senior Luke Leonetti tied for 12th with an 83.
Manhattan freshman Tate Reid took individual honors with a 74.
CLASS 6A REGIONAL GOLF
At Rolling Meadows
Team scores
Manhattan 311, Washburn Rural 321, Free State 338, Hutchinson 365, Wichita Heights 399, Junction City 412, Wichita Northwest 437.
Individual results
1. Reid, Manhattan, 74; 2. Randall, Free State, 75; 3. (tie) Depperschmidt, Washburn Rural, and Adkins, Hutchinson, 77; 5. Braxmeyer, Manhattan 78; 6. (tie) Snowden, Manhattan, and Frederickson, Washburn Rural, 79; 8. Wefald, Manhattan, 80; 9.Kandt, Manhattan, 81; 10. (tie) Sauder, Manhattan, and Burdett, Washburn Rural, 82.
Other Washburn Rural -- 12. (tie) Leonetti, 83; 17. Hight, 91; 27. Armstrong, 99.
Topeka High -- 39. Evenson, 135.
