All-Metro Golf: State champions and Kansas’ bests headline the Eagle’s inaugural team

For the first time, The Wichita Eagle and Varsity Kansas has announced an All-Metro girls golf team, consisting of the six best players in the area and a coach of the year.

Jacy Anderson - Andale, Senior

Anderson is one of the top multi-sport female athletes in the Wichita area, and it showed this fall. Anderson finished sixth at state and came runner-up at the Indians’ Class 4A regional tournament behind only her teammate and fellow All-Metro selection Morgan Brasser.

Along with shooting a 78.6-stroke average this season, Anderson finished runner-up in Class 4A discus last year. She said getting to continue to do both sports played into her college decision.

“I didn’t really want to pick between the two, so they’re giving me the best of both worlds,” Anderson said.

Morgan Brasser - Andale, Junior

Brasser was Andale’s top player in 2018. As a junior, she finished runner-up at the Class 4A tournament, won her regional and the AVCTL III-IV tournament. She helped Andale to a second-place team finish behind only Topeka Hayden.

Brasser was expected to be one of the top players in the Wichita area this fall and handled those expectations well, finishing with the second-lowest average in Kansas. With so many achievements in 2018, Brasser said the tournament she didn’t win felt the best.

“I got second but I could have easily gotten fourth if I wouldn’t have played so good in my playoff hole,” Brasser said. “I haven’t gotten first year, but that will just give me something to work for next year.”

Tiffany Chan - Andover, Sophomore

Chan had a magical day at the Class 5A state tournament. The talented Andover sophomore helped the Trojans to their second straight runner-up finish by powering to an individual title, shooting a 5-over, 76.

Chan is part of a promising sophomore class at Andover and is certainly one of the headliners after her state championship, an achievement that seemed to build through the season after a fifth-place league finish and runner-up spot at Andover’s regional.

“(Playing at Andover) is definitely competitive,” Chan said. “When we go practice holes, we’re trying to get better than the other person.”

Hanna Hawks - Trinity Academy, Junior

No player was better in Kansas. Hawks’ 71.2-stroke average was the lowest of any high school girl or boy from last season. She was dominant on her way to a Class 4A state championship shooting one of her best rounds, a 3-under, 68.

Hawks has verbally committed to the University of Kansas and for good reason. Her state championship score set the state record, topping Aquinas’ Ali Kruse by 2 shots. She said there was one scene she remembers most.

“Probably just walking off the 18th hole and hugging my dad,” Hawks said. “That was kind of a special memory.”

Shauna Lee - Andover, Sophomore

Lee showed outstanding consistency in 2018. With a AVCTL II runner-up finish and a top 10 spot at the Class 5A state tournament, Lee’s moment came in Andover’s regional. Lee and fellow All-Metro teammate Tiffany Chan were locked in a playoff, and Lee hit a jaw-dropping approach to five feet to win it.

“I was scared,” Lee said. “That was our third playoff this year, and last year at regionals, I beat her, so I was hoping I could repeat that again. It was a lot of pressure.”

Lee, Chan and Alivia Nguyen were trouble for the Wichita area in 2018, and the bad news is they’re only sophomores.

Madison Slayton - Trinity Academy, Junior

With how excellent Slayton’s teammate was in 2018, she was right there, too. The Trinity junior posted a 75.2-stroke average, which was good for the fourth-best in Kansas. She came third in Class 4A and second at Trinity’s regional.

The Knights didn’t field a full team in 2018 because of low participation, meaning Hawks and Slayton were playing as individuals. But Slayton said they still made the most of a tough situation.

“We just tried to go as low as we could and kind of push each other,” Slayton said. “We really just tried to play for Trinity and represent them well.”

Ryan Harshaw - Andover, Coach of the Year

Andover has lost two tournaments in two years. Both have come at state to St. Thomas Aquinas. But the Trojans weren’t expected to come close to a title in 2018. Harshaw helped guide the ship.

With one of the most promising sophomore classes in Kansas, Harshaw didn’t just keep Andover competitive; he kept them on top in the Wichita area. The Trojans won their league championship and regional title and came up seven strokes short of the 5A crown.

“I’ve been a coach in the area for a long, long time, and I just know how many good coaches are out there, so it’s just a huge honor,” Harshaw said.