Three senior Emporia High golfers will get to compete in the State tournament on their home course.
Zach Young medaled at the Seaman Regional tournament on Monday at Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Topeka, and fellow seniors Craig Morgan and Caleb Chiroy also earned berths at State. As a team, the Spartans shot a 372, just four strokes shy of a top-three finish that would’ve put EHS in the State tourney as a team.
“We made a lot of progress all year,” EHS coach Rick Eckert said, “and unfortunately, it’s one of those things where you hope for the best, and we came up just a hair short today.”
After being on the Class 5A runner-up team at State the past two years, Young will be making his third appearance. He shot an 87 and finished eighth in the Regional, defeating Shawnee Heights’ Taylor Wilson on a first-hole playoff for the No. 8 spot.
Morgan will be at State for the second time after shooting a 91 on Saturday. Chiroy’s score of 95 earned him his first trip. Of course, the “trip” will be all the way to Emporia Municipal Golf Course on May 26.
“You got three seniors that have contributed all year, and all three of ’em qualify for State,” Eckert said. “For them, it’s awesome.”
Rounding out the EHS performances were Jared Schaefer with a 99, Larkin Bennett with a 102 and Austin Knight with a 111. Shawnee Heights won the Regional title with a team score of 320, and Topeka West’s score of 346 and Mill Valley’s 368 were also good enough to qualify for team State berths. Emporia finished one shot ahead of Seaman. Matt Carson of Shawnee Heights was the individual champion, shooting a 78.
Young shot an 80 last year at the State tournament at Turkey Creek Golf Course in McPherson. Morgan shot a 95.