Print edition: 
Not in Lacey Tipton's wildest dreams did she envision winning the Class 5A regional at Braeburn Golf Course. In fact, the thought never really crossed her mind.
By Monday evening, being medalist became more than a dream or thought; it became a reality for the senior from Ark City.
Tipton shot a 79 — the only score in the 70s — and took home tournament medalist, while also leading the Bulldogs to a second place finish and spot in next week's state tournament at Brookridge Golf Course in Overland Park.
Kapaun Mount Carmel won the regional with a 365.
"I thought I was going to have a good season but I never thought I would win a regional," Tipton said. "This wasn't really one of my goals I made before the season but it still feels really good. I played well."
It's not like Tipton hasn't had her fair share of success this season. She won the Ark City Invitational and the Goddard Invitational in the last few weeks and felt like her game was coming on.
And on a day where only four golfers broke 90, Tipton used her steady driving to reel off eight pars and a birdie. She also was the only golfer to avoid multiple big mistakes — she made only one double bogey.
"My driver really helped me out a lot today," Tipton said. "In the beginning the weather kind of played a factor but you just had to keep warm and play steady golf."
Winning anything — the City League, regionals or state — is always an expectation for Kapaun, but this year brought new challenges.
It lost its top four scorers from last year but new faces, like Courtney Wells, stepped up to send the Crusaders back to state.
Wells shot an 83 — her best round of the season — to lead Kapaun. She made eight pars and a birdie but what kept her from potentially overtaking Tipton were two double bogies on par 5s.
"I really think playing on our home course helped me out and I felt more comfortable here than I would somewhere else," Wells said. "Even though we lost so many from last year, we still felt like we could win regionals."
Class 5A regional at Braeburn
Team results — 1. Kapaun 365 (C. Wells 83, Kr. Rathert 92, Mullen 92, Statts 98, Ka. Rathert 99, K. Wells 103); 2. Ark City 381 (Tipton 79, Blenz 91, Lewis 96, Goode 115, Moulton 115, McDowell 121); 3. Bishop Carroll 386 (Murphy 87, Kelley 95, Ubert 99, Ozbun 105, Hubbell 110, Harmon 112) 4. Andover Central 413, 5. Winfield 439.
Individual Qualifiers — 1. Mason, Andover Central 88, 2. Miller, West 96, Richardson 99, Moore, Winfield 101, Estrada, Winfield 105.
