Hillsboro’s Unruh crowned regional golf champion
Second-place Trojans qualify for state
Staff writer
Trojan golf coach Scott O’Hare had a hunch that with his team’s recent performance, they had a chance to qualify for the state meet with a solid showing at Monday’s regionals.
Hillsboro’s golfers have improved each meet, taking their strokes down little by little.
O’Hare was right.
Not only did senior Avery Unruh capture the Marion regional title, but the Trojans’ second-place finish advances them to Monday’s Class 2A state meet at the Hesston Golf Park.
Unruh shot an 89, four strokes ahead of Sedgwick’s runner-up Noah Becker in the 43-player field.
Blue Rapids-Valley Heights was the regional champion with a 439, 28 strokes ahead of Hillsboro.
“I figured we would have a realistic shot if we could post something in the 390s to low 400s,” O’Hare said. “I would have never guessed we would make it as a team with a score like we had today.
“Although it is well above what we hoped for, and are capable of, it is awesome to get this young group through the regional and advance to state competition. It’ll be a great learning opportunity for the underclassmen.”
Riley Daniels was second to Unruh for the Trojans, shooting a 123 for 14th place.
Eli Dalke finished two strokes behind Daniels in a three-way tie for 16th.
Paul Glanzer’s 130 left him in a two-way tie for 24th.
Frank Wichert rounded out Hillsboro’s finishers at 26th with a 130 on 18 holes.
“I’m very proud of Avery for his round today, and for winning the individual title,” O’Hare said. “Although he still hasn’t posted the kind of round that he is striving for, he continues to do so many things better in his short two-year career.
“I am excited for him to have another opportunity to play one more round of high school golf and to compete in his second consecutive state tournament.”