Lady Bison claim Southwest Conference crown

Kacee Samway hits a ball while catching some shade during Thursday's tournament. Samway won the individual title with a 78. Steve Towery/McCook Gazette.

COZAD, Neb. -- When the stakes were at their highest, Kacee Samway and Hannah Kohl delivered.

Firing scores of 36 and 37 on the back nine, the lowest nine-hole totals of any golfer, Samway and Kohl placed first and second at Thursday's Southwest Conference golf tournament and led the McCook Lady Bison to the team title.

McCook won the conference crown with a score of 354, thirteen strokes better than runner-up Ogallala (367). Broken Bow claimed third with 379, while Cozad (391) and Valentine (426) rounded out the top five. Gothenburg (426) was sixth, Minden (454) seventh and Ainsworth did not record a team score.

Samway won the individual title with 78, one stroke better than runner-up and teammate Kohl (79). Third was Kaylei Becker of Cozad with 81, while Minden's Taylor Kissinger (82) and Ogallala's Kira Mestl (83) rounded out the top five.

Before they finished on 18, Samway and Kohl found themselves in a battle.

The two Lady Bison both shot 42 on the front nine, which was one stroke behind Kissinger and Cozad's Abigail Cornelius for the lead.

McCook's Hannah Kohl tees off at Thursday's Southwest Conference Tournament held at the Cozad Country Club. Kohl finished second overall with 79. Steve Towery/McCook Gazette.

From that point on, Samway and Kohl had the best performances of anyone in the field. They were tied at 74 heading into the 18th hole, but Samway was able to score a four on the final hole compared to Kohl's five.

In addition to Samway and Kohl, the Lady Bison had three other finishers in the top 20. Cassidy Redl shot 97 to finish tied for 13th, Holland Stagemeyer was 17th with 100 and Faith Hansen tied for 20th with 106.

The Lady Bison will challenge for another conference championship today. McCook will be in Scottsbluff for the Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference Tournament, beginning at 10 a.m. After that, it's on to the B-4 District Tournament at Sidney's Hillside Golf Course next Monday.

Team Results

Top 15 and McCook Finishers