Senior Snyder inspires Lancers golf team

Shawnee Mission East senior Will Snyder shot a 75 Monday and won a playoff for third place at the Kansas 6A regional golf tournament. This came after strong performances in the final two regular season events, in which he was a combined 1-over par.

It’s all more than Snyder expected after missing a chunk of the season with back spasms.

“I’ve been actually playing pretty well. It’s surprising me,” he said Monday after the playoff at Tomahawk Hills Golf Course.

That’s because Snyder played in only four regular season tournaments, missing the middle of the season. He returned for the final two events, rejoining the lineup at the team’s No. 5 spot and without many expectations.

“None. None whatsoever,” he said.

Now, he leads the Lancers — the defending Kansas 6A state champions — back into the 6A state tournament next Tuesday at Shawnee Country Club in Topeka.

SM East shot a 315 to place second at its regional behind Blue Valley (308). BV North also qualified as a team with a 315. And defending 6A individual champ Curtis Yonke, of Blue Valley West, shot a 74 and won the regional in a playoff.

Meanwhile, the reigning Kansas 5A champion, St. Thomas Aquinas, earned its return to the state tournament by winning its regional Monday at Sunflower Hills.

The Saints shot a 323, while Bishop Miege placed second with a 337. Joe Winslow — the reigning 5A individual champion — placed second at the regional with a 78 to lead Aquinas. He finished behind Bonner Springs’ Parker Miller (76).

submitted by RYAN YOUNG - 2009-05-19 13:48:01

Comments - leave comment