EL DORADO — Kaden Macha made it 2-for-2 in regional championships.
The Iola High sophomore collected his second straight Class 4A regional title as the top individual golfer by scoring a 1-over-par 72 Monday at El Dorado’s Prairie Trails Golf Course
The win was the centerpiece of Iola’s second-place team finish.
By finishing second among 10 schools, Iola qualifies en masse for the Class 4A State Tournament next Monday in Cheney.
This is the second straight year the entire Mustang squad has qualified for state.
“That’s quite an accomplishment for a sophomore to do that,” Iola golf coach Doug Kerr said.
The Mustangs were well suited to handle the course at Prairie Trails and weren’t as affected as some of the other teams as winds picked up late in the round.
“That was the key,” Kerr said. “We were able to maintain our rounds, while other teams struggled.”
Except for one.
Wichita Collegiate rolled to the team championship by carding a 304, 25 strokes better than Iola’s.
“We were within seven strokes at the turn, but they really turned it on down the stretch,” Kerr said, noting Collegiate’s top four golfers all scored in the 70s. Iola had two such golfers: Macha and Shane Walden, who carded a 79 for eighth place overall.
The top three teams qualify for state. Finishing in third was Trinity Academy of Wichita at 332. Augusta was fourth at 340.
Macha took the lead with a blistering back nine score of 34, but didn’t secure his win until Collegiate’s Camron Chugg lipped out a putt that would have tied the score on the 18th hole, Kerr said.
“The course is so long, and the pace so slow that golfers could go back and forth and visit with groups around them,” Kerr said. “Everybody was well aware of where they were on the leader board.”
In other scores, Iola’s Drake Dieker finished in a tie for 23rd with an 87. Adam Peterson finished in a tie for 30th with a 91. Matt Jacobs shot a 95 for 44th. Weston Hines shot a 97, good for 47th.
Iola travels to Cheney for Monday’s state tournament. The Mustangs have a friendly face to help them scout the terrain. Former IHS Principal David Grover is superintendent of schools in Cheney and his son, Isaiah, is a member of the Cheney High School golf team.
And, like they did to great success at regionals, Iola’s squad will head to Cheney a day earlier for a practice round.
“Our goal is to get a top five score,” Kerr said. “Collegiate is going to be tough, as is Paola, and that’s not counting the Kansas City schools.”
Team scores
1. Collegiate, 304; 2. Iola, 329; 3. Trinity Academy, 332; 4. Augusta, 340;
Individuals
1. Kaden Macha, 38-34—72
8. Shane Walden, 39-40—79
23. Drake Dieker, 45-42—87
30. Adam Peterson, 46-45—91
44. Matt Jacobs, 47-48-95
47. Weston Hines, 39-58—97
Macha takes regional title
