GIRLS GOLF: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020
During the fall 2020 girls golf season, Garden City sophomore Ryan Warren has been battling the best players from Hays High for top honors in the Western Athletic Conference.
Monday, at the Class 6A regional tournament at Dodge City’s Mariah Hills Golf Course, Warren didn’t have to tackle the top players and team from Class 5A Hays.
Warren responded with her best round of the season, an 84, 11-over-par, to capture individual medalist honors that also helped the Lady Buffaloes to a third-place team finish and qualify to play in the Oct. 19-20 state tournament at Hesston Golf Course.
“Ryan played awesome and it her playing closer to her potential,” head coach Trent Specht said afterward. “I think our 4-5 players did their job for the most part.”
Warren’s total helped the Lady Buffs to a 398 team total (counting the 4 lowest scores of 5 players), finishing behind Dodge City at 376 and Derby at 390. Hutchinson was a distant fourth at 418. Only 3 teams qualified to the state tournament from each of 3 regionals. Last year, there were 4 regionals with 3 qualifying teams as the state activities association reduced the number of teams to advance to state in response to COVID-19 concerns.
The Lady Buff sophomore was two shots ahead of Dodge City’s Lauren Gleason’s 86.
Senior Rian Linenberger placed 11th with a 100 while Allie Sandoval and Emma Ortiz rounded out the team counting scores with 107 each, placing 20th and 22nd. Jerika Lopez had a 147 for her total.
“We’re still so very young and we’re hitting the ball better, but we are making too many mistakes inside 100 yards,” Specht said. “If we can improve on that, we have a chance to be pretty good. It’s exciting to watch them get better.”
The state tournament will be a 36-hole, two-day, event with no cut this year for either team or individuals.
Garden City High School 