Newton junior Naomi Koontz isn’t one to get too consumed by her score during a round of golf.
 
But the Railers’ standout knew something special had unfolded when she wrapped up the McPherson Invitational on Thursday at Turkey Creek Golf Course.
 
“When I got a birdie on the last hole, I was thinking, ‘Wow, that was a really good round,’” Koontz said.
 
Koontz had just chipped her ball to within a foot and tapped in at the par-4 fourth – her final hole – for her 10^th birdie of the day. That left her with a career-best, 8-under-par 63 and a six-shot victory over runner-up Regan Dusenbery of Andover in the battle for individual medalist.
 
Nearly a year after one of Koontz’s fellow Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League competitors, former Maize golfer Kinslea Jones, fired a 13-under 58 in the Buhler Invitational at Hesston Golf Course, the Newton standout put together the best 18-hole round of her career. Koontz bogeyed her opening hole, the par-4 fifth, but went under par during a stretch of four consecutive birdies on Nos. 8-11 and didn’t look back.
 
Koontz added another run of birdies on Nos. 14-16, got one at the par-5 18^th, then wrapped up her round with birdies at Nos. 3 and 4.
 
Koontz’s 63 topped the 6-under 65 she carded one year and eight days earlier in winning the Salina Central Invitational at Salina Municipal, where she’ll return Monday for the Salina South Invitational.
 
“I was definitely hitting really great chips,” Koontz said. “And almost all of my putts were going in.”
 
Turkey Creek displayed some vulnerability two years ago as the host of the Class 5A boys state tournament, when former Bishop Carroll standout Noah Holtzman shot a 9-under 61 in the final round and 13 under for the 36-hole tournament to lead the Golden Eagles to their first state title. Some of the same elements were in play for Koontz on Thursday.
 
“I would say it’s a pretty short course,” Koontz said. “There is quite a bit of water, but it’s pretty easily avoidable.”
 
Koontz, who opened the season with a 1-over 71 and third-place finish in her Salina Central Invitational title defense, had things working from tee to green at Turkey Creek. She spent a good chunk of her summer playing in AJGA and state-level tournaments, which gave her time to work through a brief short-game slump.
 
It didn’t take long for Koontz to feel confident and locked in her most recent tournament.
 
“I would say that when I get that way, I just feel like when I’m over the ball that’s going to be a good shot,” Koontz said. “After you hit a few shots like that and things have been going your way, you feel like it’s going to be that way each time. I felt like that was happening.”
 
Koontz, who finished fourth at the Class 5A state tournament as a freshman and third last season, is no stranger to going low. Her 70.3 stroke average last season led 5A golfers and was second in the state to Jones, a four-time individual state champion who ended her career in Class 6A.
 
Koontz opened the 2024 season with a 31 in the 9-hole Derby Invitational, outdueling Jones by four shots. She also carded 9-hole stretches of 31 in last year’s Salina Central Invitational and during her 5A regional victory at Hutchinson’s Carey Park.
 
The reigning Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II champion shot 32-31 at Turkey Creek.
 
“I’ve really been focusing on hitting the ball further,” Koontz said. “I noticed what it did for Kinslea, so it became a main focus for me. I went through my slump this summer where the chipping and putting weren’t very good, but I definitely got it back the other day.”
 
Koontz said she has benefited from having her father, Matt, in the Railers’ head coaching role. He took over this season for Joanie Pauls, who retired. Koontz’s primary goal for the fall, however, has been the same regardless of coach.
 
“I definitely want to win state and just play my best there,” Koontz said. “In the past years, I’ve been playing really well up until state and then just haven’t done great there. This year, I  want to keep getting better all the way through the state tournament.”
 
OTHER SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS GOLF STANDOUTS

• Kapaun Mt. Carmel shot a season-low 308 to win the McPherson Invitational team title by five shots over the host Bullpups, who carded a program-record 313. Sophomore Remi Hartley shot a 1-over-par 72 to tie for third with McPherson’s Brodie Kuhn and led the Crusaders, who also claimed team titles at the Andover and Dodge City invitationals.
• Cheney senior Raegen Black shot a 94 to earn individual medalist by one shot over teammate Ella Haar, as the Cardinals won the Kingman Invitational by 42 shots over Pratt on Thursday at Eagles Pub and Golf Course. All six Cheney golfers finished in the top 10, including Ashlyn Satterlee and Emmerson Bearley, who shared third with Pratt’s Lexi Simmons after carding 98s.
• Larned sophomore Ariana Meyer earned a victory on her home course Thursday, edging Hesston’s Elizabeth Hosford by one shot for the Larned Varsity Girls Tournament title. Meyer shot an 87 at Edwards Park Golf Course.

 

SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS GIRLS TENNIS STANDOUTS
 
All of McPherson’s singles and doubles entries won three matches Thursday to capture the team title at the seven-team Buhler Invitational. The Bullpups scored 53 points, 10 ahead of runner-up Buhler.
 
Junior Avery Unruh and sophomore Quinn Liebl posted a 3-0 record, defeating junior teammate Alexandria Rodriguez and McKenna Paul 8-2 for the championship. Senior Maryn Sandbo reached the singles championship before falling 8-3 to Buhler sophomore Sofia Spies.
 
Freshman Mayson Wiens took fifth in singles, posting a 3-1 record.
 
“Every one of our girls showed up ready to compete, and it was a complete team effort on Thursday,” McPherson coach Tyler Brown said. “Overall, our girls should be proud of their performance at Buhler. Next week brings an even greater challenge with (McPherson’s Doug Gayer) Classic and the Tournament of Champions at Collegiate.”
 

• Derby senior Ella Boline dropped just two games in three matches to win the No. 1 singles title Thursday at Derby’s home tournament. The Panthers’ No. 1 doubles team of Katie Brehm and Karlie Demel took third.