Wildcat golf finishes third at league

Louisburg senior Brady Lambeth eyes an upcoming putt during the Wildcats’ home tournament last week. Lambeth and the Wildcats finished third at the Frontier League tournament.

SHAWNEE – Fresh off its victory in the Louisburg Invitational the day before, the Louisburg golf team tried to carry that momentum into the Spring Hill Invitational.

The invitational, which also served as the Frontier League Tournament, was held Tuesday at Shawnee Golf and Country Club. Although it wasn’t a first-place finish, the Wildcats still finished third in the league with a 355.

Paola won the league title with a 334 and De Soto was a stroke behind to take second with a 335. In the Spring Hill Invitational team standings, Mill Valley won going away with a 314.

Louisburg took to a course some were unfamiliar with and found it difficult at times.

“We have been close to competing with De Soto and Paola, and 20 strokes away during league was disappointing,” Louisburg coach Brian Burns said. “From what my golfers said, putting was difficult for them and they did not get a good feel for them during practicing before the tournament and had much longer first putts than they are used to. There was a bunch of three-putting and even some four-putts. Most of them said their driving was pretty good for the tight conditions.”

The Wildcats still earned two medals as junior Hogan Welch and sophomore Ty Martin were among the Frontier League’s top golfers.

Martin led Louisburg with an 83 to take 14^th individually and sixth in the league standings. Welch shot an 86 to finish 19^th overall and ninth in the league.

De Soto’s Daniel Lee won the individual league crown with a 78 and teammate Jacob Kerr was second with an 80. Piper’s Erick Pahls won the tournament with a 73 on the par 72 course and Central Heights’ Matt Percy was second with a 75.

Louisburg junior T.J. Svoboda finished third on the Wildcat team with a 91, while seniors Logan Glenn and Brady Lambeth each shot a 95. Senior T.J. Smith rounded out the Wildcat team with a 104.

The Wildcats returned to action today at the Ottawa Invitational. Louisburg’s next tournament will be May 12 when it travels to Garnett for the Anderson County Invitational.