Mya Niehues was already having a good week, and season for that matter.
 
Already with one victory on her resume when she won the Concordia Invitational for the second straight year, shooting a 5-over 73 on her home course, Niehues picked up her second victory at the Sept. 22 Salina South Invitational. That win was even more impressive, not only coming away from the friendly confines of the Concordia Golf and Wellness Club, but also came with Niehues shooting a 2-over 72 on Salina’s Municipal Golf Course.
 
But that was nothing. Niehues capped the week with her best day ever on a golf course. Riding a red-hot putter, Niehues scorched Hesston Golf Course – the site of last year’s Class 4A state tournament – to the tune of a 3-under 66 that gave her the win at the Buhler Invitational, two shots ahead of McPherson’s Andi Buschbom.
 
“It felt really good and it was definitely a confidence booster,” Niehues said of her career-low round. “Something that I needed a little bit. It made me feel a little better about my golf game.”
 
It wasn’t like Niehues needed a huge pick-me-up this season. Coming off her second straight top-10 finish at last year’s Class 4A state tournament, Niehues not only had the early win but also a runner-up finish at the Salina Central Invitational with a 70, two shots behind Manhattan standout Maddie Myers, and hadn’t finished lower than fourth at a tournament.
 
But motivated by her state showing last year – a 10th-place finish after taking eighth as a freshman -- Niehues spent the offseason really working on her game. She reaped some rewards in the summer, winning the Central Links Tour Championship for the second straight year and placing 10th in the Kansas Women's Amateur Junior Division.
 
“Freshman year I was very pleased with myself, but last year I had a good season until I got to state,” Niehues said of rounds of 81 and 84 at state last year. “I didn’t live up to my expectations last year at all. It made me work harder for sure because 10th place was not my hope.”
 
Niehues placed fourth at the season-opening 4A State Preview at Carey Park Golf Course in Hutchinson, the site of this year’s state tourney, and then went on her run of three victories in four tournaments. On Thursday, she added another runner-up finish at the Nemaha Central Invitational, shooting a 77, her highest score since an 80 at the season opener.
 
But having that 66 to draw upon will be big as the postseason nears with just one more regular-season meet left before regionals on Oct. 13.
 
Niehues made five birdies in her round at Hesston with just two bogeys. She only had 27 putts on her day as the flat stick was rolling.
 
“My putter, I was having a good day,” Niehues said. “Usually if I have trouble with anything it’s my driver. My putter is usually saving my life.
 
“I think I could potentially put together another round like that. I had an off day (at Nemaha), but it was just a few things if I iron them out, I’m capable of having another really good day.”
 
Such a round would give Niehues a shot at trying to deny Wamego’s Addison Douglass a fourth straight Class 4A individual title. The two have grown up playing against each other in the North Central Kansas League and in their meetings this year, Douglass hasn’t given Niehues much room for error.
 
Douglass shot a 68 at the 4A state preview and then at Nemaha, shot a 66.
 
“I’m going to have to be very focused and on my game that day, that’s for sure,” Niehues said. “Addison’s a really good player. She doesn’t make mistakes. I’ve learned a lot from her and picked up ln some of her habits, how she reads the greens, how she looks at the course. Her mental side of the game is really good. She does a great job of regulating her emotions on the course and that’s something that I’ve looked up to and tried to do a better job of.”
 
OTHER GOLF STANDOUTS

• Seaman captured its fourth straight United Kansas Conference title, posting a team total of 327 to win by 52 shots over runner-up De Soto. Elise Eckert led a 1-2-3 Viking finish, shooting a 2-over 73 to win by eight shots over Makenna Stuke, who had an 81. Kaitlynn Frye was third with an 84. Seaman then took second at the 5A State Preview at Emporia, 10 strokes behind Andover, who shot a 341. Eckert was runner-up to Regan Dusenbery by nine shots for the title.
• Manhattan dominated the Centennial League meet as Maddie Myers led a 1-2-3 individual finish for the Indians, who posted a 315 total to win by 58 shots over Hayden. Myers shot a 73 to beat teammate Kat Ball by one while Lily Bahr was third with an 81. Wrenn Burton (6th, 87) and Jessica Kim (7th, 89) also finished in the top 10. Hayden was led by a 4-5 finish from Izzy Glotzbach (82) and Lauren Borjon (86).
• Douglass picked up three wins over the past week, giving her seven wins in as many meets this season. Douglass shot a 74 to win the Piper Invitational and then posted back-to-back rounds of 6-under with a 63 at the Tonganoxie Invitational and 66 at the Nemaha Central Invitational. Wamego won the team title at all three tournaments as well and has won six of seven tournaments this season.
• Jefferson West captured the Big East League title, posting a team score of 359 to beat Silver Lake by 14 shots for the crown. The Eagles came away with the individual champion as Kailyn Hanni shot an 82 to win by two shots over Jefferson West’s Addison Fechter and by three over Tiger Izzy Higgins.
• Herington had three placers at the Council Grove Invitational with Isabelle Ecklund taking 10th, Raquel Lawrenz finishing 11th and Cheyenne Purkeypile placing 13th. It was the first tournaments for Lawrenz and Purkeypile.