GARNETT — With their team title already a virtual certainty, Iola High’s Mustang golf team entered the Anderson County Invitational hoping to wrap up the Pioneer League crown in style.
Mission accomplished.
Iola took home the top score in a competitive field, while junior Kaden Macha edged the field for the individual title.
Macha shot a 1-over-par 71 to slip past Anderson County’s Spencer Walter, who finished one stroke behind. Iola’s Shane Walden was two shots back with a 74.
Macha’s blistering back-nine of 34 was the best of the day by three strokes, paving the way to the win. He trailed Walter and Walden by two strokes entering the turn.
“Kaden just didn’t make any mistakes,” IHS head coach Doug Kerr said. “The scary thing is, Kaden won and he didn’t putt very well. He missed five or six putts he thought he should have made.”
The Mustangs’ team score of 308 was six strokes clear of Paola in second. Ottawa finished third at 320.
Paola and Ottawa are likely Iola’s most prominent challengers at next week’s Class 4A Regional Tournament at the Emporia Municipal Golf Course.
“This gives us confidence, but the scores are so close, we know we’ll have to play well,” Kerr said.
Golfers contended with unseasonably cold and windy weather conditions Tuesday at the hilly Garnett Country Club.
“That’s been the story of our season,” Kerr said.
Despite the hills and wind, Iola’s golfers have a distinct advantage over many of their foes.
“With the weightlifting our guys do in the offseason, we’re stronger, and we play longer,” Kerr said. “So when we’re hitting wedges at the green, the other kids have to pull out irons.”
Drake Dieker finished 11th Tuesday with a 78. Adam Peterson finished 17th at 85. Matt Jacobs shot an 87 to finish 21st. Weston Hines carded a 95 to place 31st.
As an aside, Matt Percy of Central Heights — son of IHS baseball coach Mark Percy — finished fourth with a 76.
The Pioneer League team title was determined by cumulative scores at three golf tournaments: Tuesday’s in Garnett, the Osawatomie Invitational April 26 and Iola’s Buck Quincy Invitational April 28.
