Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

With gusty winds and the temperature in the 40s the weather conditions for the Solon Invitational last week were certainly less than ideal.

For Regina junior Mikey Takacs the only thing worse than the weather for the Regals’ first 18-hole outing of the season was the way that it started.

The first shot of the tournament for Takacs went out of bounds leading to a triple bogey seven on the par-four first.

That slow start didn’t stop Takacs from finishing on top.

Takacs rebounded from the opening hole struggle to earn medalist honors at the meet, shooting a six-over-par 78 to finish one stroke in front of three golfers that carded a 79 at Lake MacBride Golf Course in Solon.

“It felt good,” Takacs said. “It was obviously not the way I wanted to start especially on a tough day weather-wise but I was happy with how I played.”

While Takacs certainly didn’t want to open the tournament with a tee shot out of bounds or a seven on the first hole the junior said the early mistake actually took some pressure off.

Takacs had a par on the par-four second and made birdie on the par-three third to get rolling.

He closed the front nine with a birdie and a par to shoot 40.

“The triple it was kind of good because it took some pressure off knowing I didn’t have a great round going to start,” Takacs said. “I knew I just had to work back.”

Takacs really got rolling on the second nine.

After a bogey on the first he rattled off three consecutive pars before finishing with birdies on two of his final three holes including the par-five ninth.

“On the front nine I wasn’t hitting my driver as well but after that I was a lot better,” Takacs said. “On the back nine I figured my swing out and I got in the fairway a lot more.”

The strong finish to the tournament continued an upward trajectory for Takacs who has gotten better with every outing this season.

An individual state qualifier last season Takacs closed last season strong finishing in a tie for 18^th at the Class 2A state meet.

After opening the season by shooting 43 in a dual with Mid-Prairie Takacs fired a 38 in a dual with Tipton in his second outing before his win at Solon on Wednesday.

The key to success for Takacs this season is the same thing that helped him battle through a tough start on Wednesday – an improved mental game.

“Mentally I’m a lot more mature than last year, last year if I started off with a triple I don’t think I’d be able to shoot 78,” Takacs said. “The mental game is a lot better but my swing is a lot better too.”

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.