Heinitz career day leads EHS golfers to 8th-place finish
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Spartans show improvement at Salina Central tourney
Highlighted by Melissa Heinitz’s career-best performance and an eagle by Hannah Watkins, Emporia High’s golf team finished eighth in a tournament Tuesday hosted by Salina Central.
The Spartans shot a 192 at the nine-hole tourney, which tied them with Newton for seventh, but Newton finished ahead on a fifth-man playoff. Heinitz shot a 5-over 40, good for a three-way tie for ninth, then finished 11th after the four-hole playoff. EHS coach Rick Eckert said Heinitz “just flat-out shot outstanding today.”
“It was fantastic, and God, she was so excited,” Eckert said. “When the round was over, she couldn’t wait to tell me what she had shot: ‘It was just like everything I did went right today.’ And it obviously was. She played really well.”
Watkins finished with a 42, EHS’ second-best score, and scored an eagle on the par-5 No. 7.
“In the 10 years that I’ve been here, she’s the first girl that I’ve had that’s gotten an eagle on a hole,” Eckert said. “... She hit a really long drive, hit a good iron shot in and one-putted it for an eagle. So that was kind of interesting to see that. ... She was freaking out.”
Amber Mechtley had a 52 for Emporia, and Rachael Clopton rounded out the Spartans’ team score with a 58. Kelsey Burenheide shot a 60 and Makenzie Harder had a 63.
“Things are starting to fall into place a little bit,” Eckert said. “We’d like to see the scores above 50 come down a little bit. But we’re starting to see a little bit more consistency in what they’re doing.”
Manhattan won the tournament team title with a 154, 17 strokes ahead of second-place Hays. Cassie Lowell of Concordia won the individual first-place medal with an even-par 35.
The Spartans next travel to Ozawkie on Sept. 14 for a tournament at Village Greens Golf Course. Seaman will host the tourney.