By Matt Browning
The Buhler girls program has had significant success over the past decade, winning Class 4A state titles in 2011 and 2012.
While this year’s team had proven throughout the season they were a state contender, the new two-day format at the state meet introduced new challenges to teams in and around the lead.
The Crusaders went into the second day of the tournament with a three-shot lead over Winfield and coach Brennan Torgerson figured there would be a heightened level of pressure.
“The nerves certainly ramped up,” Torgerson said. “But the conversations I had with the team were no different than any other tournament. I told them to take it one shot at a time and stay in the moment.”
That they did.
After shooting 377 on the first day, Buhler came back to shoot a 378 on day two and cruised to a 13-shot victory over Wamego to capture the 4A Title at Hesston Golf Course.
“I was so impressed with our team on the second day,” Torgerson said. “We battled and handled the weather conditions really well.”
Intense wind played a pivotal role in the tournament, but that did not detour senior Haley Miller in leading the Crusaders in scoring with a two-day total of 168 (85-83).
Teammate junior Lauren Specht finished with a 179 (92-87).
Torgerson said he did not ever think about what type of score was needed on the second day in order to capture the school’s third title in eight seasons. “We just tried to make the second day another golf tournament,” Torgerson said. “We were in the lead by three shots and we won the first day. But a two-day tournament crowns a true champion.”
At the same tournament, Andale’s Morgan Brasser won the individual championship by ten shots over Miller with a score of 158 (80-78). “It has been something I have been waiting on for a long time,” said Brasser, who took third as a freshman and second as a sophomore and a junior. “It is starting to sink in and everywhere I go in the community people are stopping to congratulate me.”
Brasser said sleeping on the lead, which she had by two shots, was one of the most difficult things she has had to do.
But she knew if she played smart and played a good round, she would be fine. “I was playing safe to a certain extent,” Brasser said. “But I was still focused on making birdies and pars.”
Class 5A
Andover’s Madison Slayton took second at the 5A Tournament at Emporia Municipal Golf Course with a score of 162 (84-78). Shauna Lee from Andover Central took third with a score of 166 (82-84).
The Trojans took third as a team with a score of 714, 24 strokes behind champion St. Thomas Aquinas.
