Tigers claim second place in SEK golf

CHANUTE -- Fort Scott High School's girls' golf team took third place in the first-ever Southeast Kansas League designated girls' golf tournament here Monday. But because second-place Caney Valley is not a member of the SEK, the Tigers are actually in second place in team standings.

Chanute's first-year program took first place on its home course with a nine-hole, four-woman total of 215. Each of its four scorers shot under 57 and earned medals. Caney Valley was second at 215 and Fort Scott was third at 231.

"It's our finish of the season so far," Fort Scott head coach Karen Curran said. "We've already got some ground to make up with Chanute; we're 15 strokes behind. But am hoping that we'll be able to do that with the final two meets at Pittsburg and Columbus.

Girard was fourth at 214 with Columbus fifth at 250. Since Girard isn't in the SEK, either, Columbus is in third place in the standings.

Taking the lead in the individual race was Pittsburg's Maggie Sloan, who win the tourney with a 43. Eureka's Britteny Shaw was second at 45 followed by Caney's Paige Chaffin at 46. Fort Scott's Kacie Brown is the next SEK golfer on the list with her fourth-place 49. That puts her second in the individual standings.

"Kacie was finally able to break 50 and shoot a 49, a personal goal for the season," Curran said. "So now, she knows she can do it and can still find ways to take even more strokes off her score."

Although Devan Lloyd did not medal with her 59, which tied for 15th in the tournament, after the non-league golfers are eliminated, she's tied for eighth with Columbus' Ashley Newell and Alex Wary.

"I'm so impressed with the progress that Devan is showing everytime she goes out to compete," Curran said. "She's such a competitor that she will do whatever it takes to help the team do well.

Riley Wunderly tied for 19th in the tournament with a score of 60. She is 11th in the SEK standings.

"Riley had a great round going, but a couple of tough holes got in her way of a really good score," Curran said. "I think she's just about ready to have a major breakthrough and then she'll become more consistent."

Hayley Kruse rounds out Tiger scored aith a 63 that tied for 25th in the tourney. She's 13th in league standings as the tied golfers are not on league teams.

"Hayley shot her career-low score of 63," Curran said. "I'm just thrilled for her to have done so well and can't wait to see how she continues to improve throughout the season."

Shelby Blackburn was unable to play due to illness.

The Tigers will go to Girard this morning for an 18-hole tournament. Thrusday, they'll be in Joplin for a 9-hole tournament with Galena as the host.

TEAM SCORES

1. Chanute (CH) 215 (Gard 51, Franke 53, Woodard 55, Decker 56), 2. Caney Valley (CV) 220 (Chaffin 46, Gustus 54, Fields 58, Price 62), 3. Fort Scott (FS) 231 (Brown 49, Lloyd 59, Wunderly 60, Kruse 63),

4. Girard (GI) 241 (Smith 56, Boultinghouse 59, James 63, Gordon 63), 5. Columbus 250 (Schoech 57, Newell 59, Wary 59, Roth 75), 6. Yates Center 258 (Baker 58, German 61, Hartwig 68, Jennings 71),

7. Anderson County 259 (J.Holloran 57, Fritz 60, K.Holloran 65, Hermreck 77), 8. Pittsburg (PT) 270 (Sloan 43, Kelley 72, White 75, Minton 80), 9. Galena 284 (Thompson 61, Gowens 66, Dugan 68, Adams 89),

10. Parsons 287 (Carpenter 61, Kay 70, Hudson 77, Woods 79).

Incomplete team: Eureka (E).

MEDALISTS

1. Maggie Sloan, PT, 43; 2. Britteny Shaw, E, 45; 3. Paige Chaggin, CV, 46; 4. Kacie Brown, FS, 49; 5. Taylor Gard, CH, 51;

6. Bethany Franke, CH, 53; 7. Aspen Gustus, CV, 54; 8. Rebecca Woodard, CH, 55; 9. Danae Decker, CH, 56; 10. Madalyn Smith, GI, 57.

SEK STANDINGS

Team

Individual