Lady Buffs golfers take 4th at WAC opening tourney in Hays

LADY BUFFS GOLF: Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020

The preseason previews for the Western Athletic Conference girls golf race had indicated Hays High Indians as the early favorite to unseat the defending champion Garden City Lady Buffs.

And while the opening salvo on the Hays’ home course, Smoky Hill Country Club, did indicate that Hays might be the odds-on team to beat, GCHS head coach Trent Specht was optimistic about his squad’s 384 score (4 best scores count) which placed them fourth overall in the eight-team tourney to the winning score of 335 by the Lady Indians.

Perhaps the biggest surprise came from Dodge City, which placed third in the overall standings, second in the WAC chase, with a 377 score. Salina South was second at 371.

Sophomore Ryan Warren paced the Lady Buffs’ individuals with an 84, good for third place after winning a playoff against three other players. Taleia McCrae of Hays was first with an 80, and Zoe Norton of Salina South was second with an 81.

Senior Rian Linenberger placed 18th with a 96, Jerika Lopez was 23rd at 101, Allie Sandoval 27th at 103, Emma Ortiz 29th with 104 and Hannah Plummer had a 125. The top four scores for each team figure into the total.

“I think we’ll be good by the end of the year,” Specht said of his young squad. “Two of our freshmen girls played good.”

Next up for the Lady Buffs will be the Dodge City Invitational on Sept. 10 at Mariah Hills Golf Course.

Team Scores: 1. Hays, 335; 2. Salina South, 371; 3. Dodge City, 377; 4. Garden City, 384; 5. Great Bend, 393; 6. Hays-TMP, 403; 7. Salina Central, 413; 8. Liberal, 453.

Garden City Scores: Ryan Warren, 84; Rian Linenberger, 96; Jeerika Lopez, 101; Allie Sandoval, 103; Emma Ortiz, 104; Hannah Plummer, 125.