On Iola High’s final round in Southeast Kansas League golf, the Mustangs played like champions. They left the SEK with the 2012 team and individual championships tucked in their golf bags.
Iola went into Tuesday’s Fort Scott High Invitational golf tournament five strokes behind Independence High’s Bulldogs in the SEK team race. The Fort Scott tournament was the final league designated tournament.
“Our kids were focused going into today’s tournament. They wanted to win the league championship,” said Rick Horton, Iola High golf coach. “This was our fourth tournament in five days but the kids pulled it off.”
The Mustangs did indeed pull it off.
To call the Mustang golfers excited would be an understatement.
“This is awesome,” said senior Kris Collins.
Oh by the way, Iola freshman Kaden Macha won the 2012 SEK individual championship. A feat no one can remember happening for IHS in the past 30-plus years.
According to SEK records, the last time a Mustang golf team won a league championship was 32 years ago in 1980.
Iola finished second as a team in the Fort Scott tournament Tuesday. Independence ended up seventh.
The Mustangs captured the SEK golf championship by 13 strokes. They won two of the four league designated tournaments.
Iola finished with a team score of 1,337 for the four tournaments. Independence slipped to fourth in the SEK standings at 1,359. Fort Scott placed second with a 1,350 and Coffeyville was third at 1,351.
Macha finished with 309 for the four tournaments. Pittsburg’s Andrew Joy was second at 319.
The top 10 individuals in the SEK standings earn All-SEK honors. Macha and freshman Shane Walden, who finished fourth with 328, are All-SEK golfers.
SEK honorable mention goes to golfers, including ties, in the 11 through 20 slots.
Freshman Drake Dieker tied for 18th in the SEK at 354 and Collins was tied for 20th at 355. Senior Zach Crawford ended up 26th at 372. Freshman Isaiah Grover was qualified for the SEK standings because he missed one of the four tournaments.
In Tuesday’s tournament at Fort Scott, the Mustangs were second with a four-man total of 332. Fort Scott won its own tournament title with a 329.
