High school golfers have closed out the fall portion of their campaign, meaning some have put away their clubs while others look forward to playing another day – even if that day isn’t until spring.
Prep golf in these parts is a two-season event. The regular season plays out during the fall, along with a postseason tournament that keeps hopes alive for the top performers. Some will play in a spring qualifying tournament, which provides another opportunity to advance to state, while an elite few have already earned automatic placement into the various state tournaments.
State competition is slated for the weekend of May 22-23. The Class 4A and 2A tournaments will be staged at courses in the Tri-Cities, while Class 3A competitors will head to Spokane. The spring qualifying tournaments will be played a week ahead of state at courses closer to home.
ENUMCLAW
The Hornet girls were third in the final standings at the close of the North Puget Sound League tournament. Sixteen teams competed at the Gold Mountain complex, playing the Olympic Course Oct. 16-17.
Six EHS girls survived the Day 1 cut and advanced to the second day of competition. They were Kennedy VanHoof, Emma Murphy, Danyel Korpe, Taylor Anglin, Maddie Rubin and Maya Rismiller.
VanHoof eventually placed 13th in the tourney and earned a spot in next spring’s Class 4A state tournament. She had a par on the first hold of a sudden-death playoff to secure the state berth.
Both Anglin and Murphy earned a spot in the spring qualifier. Murphy earned the right to play in the spring by finishing third in a four-person playoff.
On the boys side of things, EHS had six golfers advance from Day 1 and play the entire 36 holes. They were Matt Hodgman, Jaeger Christian, Cameron Serba, Mark Porter, Riley Hebrank and Bobby Sparkman.
After two rounds, Hodgman was tied for fourth and earned a berth in the spring Class 4A state tournament. Additionally, both Christian and Serba advanced to the spring qualifier, where they will have another crack at making the state tourney.
SUMNER
Spartan golfers challenged Gold Mountain Oct. 5-6, looking to keep their seasons alive.
In the end, Alec LaBarge had guaranteed himself a spot in the spring Class 4A tournament. He opened with an 82 and shot 80 on Day 2 to place fifth overall in the South Puget Sound League field. A trio of SHS teammates — Isaiah Barber, Carson Inglin and Ian Engstrom — played their way into the spring qualifier.
Among Spartan girls, Abby Burns was the top finisher; her two-day total of 188 placed her into the spring qualifier.
In the tourney team standings, the Sumner High boys placed second and the girls were fourth. All eight Sumner boys and all six Spartan girls survived the cut and played both days.
BONNEY LAKE
The Panther teams headed to DuPont Oct. 9-10 where The Home Course hosted the West Central District Class 3A tournament.
Bonney Lake did not have a golfer earn a guaranteed spot to the spring 3A state tournament, but a handful of Panthers managed to keep their dreams alive.
On the boys side, Rayce Spoor, Tanner Smith, Champ Spencer and Eric Hughes qualified for slots in the state qualifier, to be played in May.
Among the Panther girls, Gabby Jones, Ally Richied and Jessica Holubowsky advanced to the spring qualifier and Rylee Howard is an alternate.
The spring qualifier will be played at the Gold Mountain complex in Bremerton.
WHITE RIVER
The hugely successful White River golf programs sorted out their postseason destinies early this week.
Both the Hornet boys and girls teams competed Oct. 21 in the South Puget Sound League medalist tournament and, on Monday, finished the state-qualifying round. Action both days took place at Lake Spanaway Golf Course.
The Hornets were looking for continued success following a regular season in which the girls went 12-0 and the boys finished 13-1.
