Southeast Kansas golfers take top two spots in Class 4A

HESSTON -- Southeast Kansas golfers had to go to a playoff to decide who was the best in the state at the Class 4A State Girls' Golf Tournament here Monday.

Meanwhile, Fort Scott had two representatives here. Senior Karley Stark finished her career by shooting a 53 on the front nine and 57 on the back for a 110 at Hesston Golf Park.

"Karley was 16 strokes better than what she posted at Regionals," Fort Scott Head Coach Karen Curran said. "It was great to watch Karley play some of the best golf of her career in her final high school tournament, and for it to have been at the state tournament...it was kind of like 'mission accomplished.' She was relaxed and smiling and swinging with confidence. If not for a handful of mis-strokes here and there, she would have have a career-best day of golf. But all in all, I couldn't be more proud of her."

Junior Morgan Robertson shot 62-61--123.

"Morgan's day started off pretty much the same as Karley's," Curran said. "She struggled through the first hole, then played a few really good holes, had another tough one, then three more really good scores, then finished the first nine with a buzzard. And that's pretty much how she played the back. So needless to say, consistency was the issue, and she knows that that's got to be the primary focus between now and next season. She's got all the tools to play great golf. She just needs to be confident and trust in herself. Counting on her getting back to the State Tournament next year."

Girard's Timbrelee McNair (35-37) and Coffeyville's Anna Pool (38-34) went to a playoff after they finished tied for the top spot with 72's. McNair, the SE-KAN champion, won the first playoff hole from Pool, the Southeast Kansas League champion.

McNair finished the year winning nine consecutive tournaments. She was fourth at State last year and is Girard's second State champ. Beatriz DeOlano won the 2000 Class 4-3-2-1A title, also in a playoff.

Girard's Carly Heatherly tied for 11th at 43-45--88. Chanute's Danae Decker finished 15th at 46-43--89.

Buhler won its second consecutive team title, shooting 360. Winfield was second at 364 and Girard, coached by Curran's husband, Steve, was third at 369. Chanute finished sixth at 395 and Labette County's first-year team was 12th at 448. LCHS is coached by the Currans daughter, Ashley Spencer.

TEAM SCORES

1. Buhler (B) 360, 2. Winfield (W) 364, 3. Girard (GI) 369, 4. Topeka Hayden (TH) 376, 5. Andale (AN) 378, 6. Chanute (CH) 395, 7. Goodland 404, 8. Ulysses (U) 408, 9, Meriden-Jefferson West (JW) 416, 10. Colby 417, 11. Kansas City-Piper (KCP) 430, 12. Labette County 448.

MEDALISTS

1. Timbrelee McNair, GI, 35-37--72; 2. Anna Pool, Coffeyville, 38-34--72; 3. Taryn Torgerson, B, 36-38--74; 4. Brittni Jensen, DeSoto, 37-38--75; 5. Taylor Hawkins, AN, 44-35--79;

6. Emily Pennings, KCP, 43-40--83; 7. Maggie Koops, U, 43-42--85; 8. Rhiannon Caldwell, DeSoto, 42-44--86; 9. Rachel Eck, AN, 45-42--87; 10. Abby Berthoff, W, 46-41--87;

11. Holly Hottinger, W, 46-42--88; (tie). Maggie Starr, B, 43-45--88; (tie). Carly Heatherly, G, 43-45--88; (tie). Madison Krull, Spring Hill, 43-45--88; 15. Danae Decker, CH, 46-43--89;

16. Jesse Burtnett, W, 43-47--90; (tie). Ally West, JW, 44-46--90; (tie). Abbie Thelen, JW, 46-44--90; 19. Heidi Sisson, TH, 45-46--91; Kyrstie Miller, Holton