Chieftain golfers 8th at Hayden Invitational
Following a 12-day hiatus, the Tonganoxie High varsity golf team finally returned to the course Monday at the Hayden Invitational. The Chieftains had mixed returns as they combined for a team score of 350 — good enough for eighth place — at Village Greens Golf Course in Meriden.
Junior Drew Sandburg was solid in his return, placing fifth individually with a season-low 79. He was the only Chieftain to place in the top-10.
“I was very pleased with Drew’s performance,” coach Jared Jackson said. “He played like a true No. 1 for the first time this year.”
Senior Conner Kietzmann, a newcomer on the varsity squad this season, finished second on the team with an 88.
Fellow seniors Aaron Williams and Tyler Hall struggled after the extended layoff. The team’s most experienced golfers struggled to scores of 89 and 97 to finish third and fifth on the team, respectively.
“There is a pattern for players that take extended time off from competitive golf in which they struggle the first tournament back,” Jackson said. “That was the case for Tyler and Aaron.”
Junior Austin Harris finished between Williams and Hall with a 94, and sophomore Ben Clark rounded out the Chieftains’ day with a 107.
Host school Topeka-Hayden won the team title with a score of 329, finishing three strokes ahead of Mill Valley and four ahead of Lansing.
“We were beat by good teams, but it was very similar to what we will see at our regional in May,” Jackson said.
THS won’t have to wait long for its next competition, as it will play in the Spring Hill Invitational at 8 a.m. Thursday at Sycamore Ridge Golf Course. The Chieftains will also be in action Friday at the Wichita Collegiate Invitational at Cherry Oaks Golf Course in Cheney.
Overall team results
- Topeka-Hayden, 329; 2. Mill Valley, 332; 3. Lansing, 333; 4. Piper, 336; 5. Pembroke Hill, 343; 6. Ottawa, 344; 7. Christ Preparatory Academy, 347; 8. Tonganoxie, 350; 9. De Soto, 352; 10. KC Christian, 363; 11. Hayden Gold, 368; 12. Basehor-Linwood, 380.