Led by Casey Sexton, who was league medalist with a 77, Abilene ran away with the title with a four-man score of 341. Concordia, winners of the NCKL the last two years, placed second: 14 shots back with a 355.
“It feels good to bring home the league title, we were second last year but had not won the league since 2000,” said Abilene coach Mark Willey. “Overall, the course was playing tough. The wind really picked up and gave the boys some trouble.
“The four birdies were the key to Casey’s round, he hit a bunch of really good shots today,” he added.
Abilene’s Jacob Harms tied for third medalist with an 81. Justin Linn shot 89 and Justin Carroll shot 94 for the four-man score. Thomas Cooper shot 100 and Ryan Kreutzer shot 101 to round out Abilene scoring.
Chapman’s Josh Chewning tied Harms for third medalist and won the playoff. Chewning shot an even par 36 on the back nine.
The Fighting Irish finished fourth, just two shots behind Wamego.
Bryce Winters shot 94, Zach Harris shot 98 and Brandt Blixt shot 101 for a 374 totals. Kody Baer also shot 115 and Aaron Parham 116 for Chapman.
“Jacob continues to play with a lot of confidence,” Willey said. “He had a nice, solid round and made a couple of big putts.
“We used Justin Carroll's score today,” Willey said. “Anything can happen in golf. It is important to have six players capable of shooting a good score.”
Up next for both Abilene and Chapman golf teams will be the Class 4A regional at Holton on May 14. Along with the Cowboys and the Fighting Irish, teams include Atchison, Clay Center, Concordia, Hiawatha, Holton, Hoyt-Royal Valley, Meriden-Jefferson West, Wamego.
The top two teams at each regional tournament plus the next five lowest individual scores that are not members of a qualifying team qualify for the state tournament. That will be held at the famous Dub’s Dread Golf Club in Kansas City.
“We have a chance at Regional to advance the team to state,” Willey said. “We have to focus and have a good week of practice.”
Since 1967 Abilene has won the NCKL golf tournament 21 times, including five straight years from 1971 through 1975.
The Cowboy golf team also won the junior varsity tournament at Concordia. Trenton Roth was medalist with a 39. Dalton Goodwin was second best with a 41 and Andrew Minson was third with a 46.
NCKL Tournament
May 7, 2012
Marysville
Team: 1. Abilene 341, 2. Concordia 355, 3. Wamego 372, 4. Chapman 374, 5. Clay Center 399, 6. Marysville 438.
Individuals: 1. Casey Sexton, A, 77, 2. Brandon Nash, CC, 80, 3. Josh Chewning, Ch, 81, 4. Jacob Harms, A, 81, 5. Kadin Zimmerman, Con, 96, 6. Grant Holmes, Con, 86.
NCKL JV Tournament
May 7, 2012
At Concordia
Team: Abilene, Wamego, Concordia.
Abilene nine hole scores: Trenton Roth 39 1st; Dalton Goodwin 41 2nd; Andrew Minson 46 3rd; Cade Rosalez 48 5th; Elliot Gassman 51 9th; Michael Koehler 53.
JV at Minneapolis
May 5, 2012
Abilene scores: Andrew Minson 44 1st; Dalton Goodwin 45 2nd; Michael Koehler 45 2nd; Elliot Gassman 47 4th; Cade Rosalez 48 6th; Layne Shiffner 59.