Second verse, almost exactly the same as the first.
For the second straight year, the Emporia High boys golf team finished as the runner-up at the State Tournament on Monday, and also for the second straight year, the Spartans finished just a few strokes behind the champion, St. Thomas Aquinas.
Emporia High finished with a total score of 303 at Turkey Creek Golf Course in McPherson, putting the Spartans just five strokes back of the Saints, who carded a team score of 298.
Last season at Auburn Hills in Wichita, EHS finished two strokes behind St. Thomas Aquinas.
“We obviously wanted that State title, but it feels pretty good to know that we finished second in the state two years in a row,” senior Bren Fisher said. “We were a little disappointed we didn’t come away with the championship, but I think when we look back on this, we’ll be proud of ourselves; it’s a pretty good accomplishment.”
The Spartans’ effort was led by Fisher, who carded a 2-over par 72 to finish second individually.
After getting off to what he called “a decent start,” Fisher chipped in for birdie on the 10th hole to move to under par for his round.
“I thought at that point that I might have a chance at the individual title,” Fisher said.
But a couple of bogeys on the backstretch and an errant shot into the water on the 16th hole dropped Fisher down the leaderboard, though he capped his round with a birdie on the 18th to force a playoff for second place, and he defeated Arkansas City’s Mike Osterthun in that playoff to claim the silver medal.
Aquinas’ Joe Winslow shot the only under-par round to win the individual title with a 2-under 68.
Two other Emporia High golfers placed in the top 20. Senior Fletcher Harder finished ninth with a 5-over 75, and senior Eric Reimer finished in a tie for 13th with a 6-over 76.
Zach Young rounded out Emporia’s team score after he carded an 80. Matt McAnarney finished with an 83 and Craig Morgan finished with a 95.
Class 5A State Tournament
At Turkey Creek G.C., McPherson, par 70
Team scores
St. Thomas Aquinas 298, Emporia 303, Hutchinson 310, McPherson 314, Shawnee Heights 317, Kapaun Mt. Carmel 320, Winfield 324, Bishop Miege 326, Pittsburg 333, Bishop Carroll 335, Salina South 344, Seaman 346.
Top 20 medalists
1. Joe Winslow, STA, 68; 2. Bren Fisher, Emp, 72; 3. Mike Osterthun, AC, 72; 4. David Auer, KMC, 73; 5. Cody Christie, BM, 74; 6. Jon Nichols, Pitt, 74; 7. T.J. Holgerson, McP, 74; 8. Treg Fawl, McP, 74; 9. Fletcher Harder, Emp, 75; 10. Evan Holcomb, Hutch, 75; 11T. Thane Ringler, Hutch, 75; 11T. Brian Bergman, STA, 75; 13T. Eric Reimer, Emp, 76; 13T. Steven Jablonowski, SH, 76; 15T. Christian Bechard, TW, 77; 15T. Jimmy Clifford, STA, 77; 17T. Daniel Trout, STA, 78; 17T. Sam Sawyer, Win, 78; 17T. A.J. Frederes, STA, 78; 17T. Wilson Long, Win, 78. Other EHS finishers — Zach Young 80, Matt McAnarney 83, Craig Morgan 95.