ShawneeDispatch.com

The golfers from Mill Valley were busy last week traveling to Lansing for the Lansing Invitational on Monday and to Olathe for the Olathe South Invitational on Tuesday.

The Jags finished in first place at Lansing with a team score of 331. Topeka Hayden finished second with a 333, Immaculata finished third with a 334 and Piper finished fourth with a 334 as well.

"The kids were not real happy in the way they golfed today," Zuckerman said. "Needless to say, they were all pretty surprised when the scores were calculated and we found out that we won."

Individually, Robbie Merckel finished in 6th place for Mill Valley with a 79 and Brian Polcar finished in 11th place with an 82.

"Robbie Merckel is playing great golf this year," Zuckerman said. "He is really hot right now."

On Tuesday the Jags traveled to Saint Andrews Golf Course in Olathe for the Olathe South Invitational. Mill Valley finished in fourth place with 334 points. The talk of the tourney was freshman Jordan Smith from Olathe South. Smith shot an unbelievable 71 and he even bogeyed his last three holes.

"A freshman shooting 71 is amazing," Zuckerman said. "That's good enough to be in the pros already. The kids were saying he is going to be the next Tiger Woods"

Smith and Olathe South finished the tournament in first place with a score of 311. Blue Valley finished second with 321 and Blue Valley West finished third with 323.

"Not all of the teams had their best players," Zuckerman said. "I was hoping that all of the best players would be at Olathe so our team could see how we stack up against them. Unfortunately, none of our guys shot real well today."

Mill Valley will travel to Sycamore Ridge this Wednesday for the Spring Hill Invitational. Tee off time is scheduled for 7:15 a.m.

"Sycamore Ridge is a beautiful course," Zuckerman said. "The front nine is not too bad but the back nine is treacherous. I am anxious to see how our guys do out there."

On Thursday the Jags will busto Lawrence for the Free State Invitational at the Lawrence Country Club. Tee off time for that event is slated at 3 p.m. The Free State will host big schools such as Olathe South, Saint Thomas Aquinas along with Mill Valley.

"Their fairways are nicer than most greens," Zuckerman said. "It's a great course as well."

The Jags placed first at the Lansing Invitational, and it was the second time this year Mill Valley has come home a winner at a tournament as they won the Bonner Springs Invitational earlier this season. Last year the Jags failed to finish first place in any tournament they competed in.

"I think the seniors are focused on golf and winning this year," Mill Valley coach Dave Zuckerman said. "They are more focused on winning as a team that just winning individually. I think that is the difference between this year and last year."

The senior leadership seems to be benefiting the Jags greatly and coming so close in tournaments last season has appeared to push Mill Valley over the top this year.

"They are think golf and strategy better this year," Zuckerman said. "The seniors work so well together and I think that is due to the fact that they have played together for so long and the tough competition they have been facing so far this year."