by Alan Hoskins
Nichole Wiehe-Hankins doesn’t play in the Wyandotte County Open very often but when she does, look out.
The 2008 champion when she was still in college at Park University, the 29-year-old Wiehe-Hankins made it two wins in two tries at Sunflower Hills Sunday with a two-shot win over past champions Donna Reid and Pat Seber-Bradley. The win was made extra special because it came on the fourth birthday of her son, William, and also snapped a streak of five straight championships won by Seber-Bradley.
“I didn’t really think about winning, all I wanted to do was improve,” said Wiehe-Hankins, who had no idea she had won until the scores were totaled after the final hole. “This was just my fourth round of the year. I really didn’t pay attention to the other scores because I just wanted to play better.”
Five shots back with an opening round 89 on Saturday, Wiehe-Hankins charged from behind with an 84 Sunday. Her big finish was highlighted by winning closest-to-the-pin honors on the 134-yard 13th hole with a birdie two.
“I putted a lot better today and hit the ball pretty well,” Wiehe-Hankins said. “Exceptionally well,” said Seber-Bradley. A 9-time champion, Seber-Bradley couldn’t overcome big scores on the long No. 1 and 15 holes.
A Piper graduate and a member of one of the Pirates’ powerhouse girls teams, Wiehe-Hankins moved ahead of her brother in WyCo championships. Her brother, Stan Wiehe, won the men’s championship in 2013. Her win also gave Piper a sweep of the WyCo championships as Parker Miller took the men’s crown.