Area golfers competed last week to determine who would continue their seasons in the spring and who would pack away their clubs for the season.
Golf is divided into to parts, with most of the campaign in the fall. Action concludes with a Medalist Tournament, where top golfers earn trips to the spring state tournaments – for both Class 3A and 2A – and others advance to the Spring Qualifier, which forwards an additional field of competitors to the state tournaments.
Results of the recent Medalist Tournaments, for both 3A and 2A, are as follows.
White River girls
White River’s girl golfers again proved dominant. After claiming another South Puget Sound League 3A championship and going undefeated for the second year in a row, Hornet golfers nearly swept the guaranteed state berths at the annual Medalist Tournament.
The tourney was played Oct. 19 and 21 at Lake Spanaway Golf Course and gave the top six finishers automatic entry to the spring’s state Class 2A tournament.
White River took five of the six allocations, led by tourney champion Sydnee Scott, who carded a 36-hole total of 189. Finishing second was Georgia Lavinder, just a stroke behind at 190; Sofia Lavinder was third, 194; Maci Goethals was fourth, 196; and Jordanne Fray was fifth, 200.
Also participating in the Medalist Tourney for White River were Dani Barbee and Taylee Goethals. They finished eighth and ninth, respectively, and earned a trip to the Spring Qualifier. That tournament will give each participant another chance to participate in the state 2A tourney.
White River boys
A pair of White River High golfers – Cooper Franklin and Joe Flanigan – have already earned a berth into next spring’s state Class 2A golf tournament, while teammates Josh Murdock and Sawyer Mills are still in the running for a slot in the state field.
The South Puget Sound League’s 2A golfers gathered Oct. 19 and 21 for the annual Medalist Tournament, which sends the top seven finishers directly to state. The tourney was contested at Lake Spanaway Golf Course.
Franklin carded the top 36-hole total, finishing at 157. Flanigan was fourth in the field with 171.
Qualifying for the Spring Qualifier, which will send an additional 13 golfers to the Class 2A state tourney, were Mills and Murdock. They finished 18th and 19, respectively, in the Medalist Tournament, registering two-day totals of 188 and 189.
Other members of the White River boys team competing in the Medalist Tournament, and their two-day totals, were Blake Coogan, 194; Cole Richey, 196; and Mckay Penrose, 198.
The Hornet boys team went 13-1 during the regular season, tying Fife for the best record in the SPSL 2A. White River was a step behind the Trojans during the postseason play to finish with the No. 2 overall ranking.
Enumclaw boys
After polishing off another perfect regular season, the Enumclaw High golf program saw three players qualify for the spring’s Class 3A state tournament.
The Hornets finished the season 14-0 to claim a fourth straight South Puget Sound League 3A title and followed up with a third straight championship in the Medalist Tournament, which advanced seven players to state. The tourney was contested 19-20 at the Gold Mountain complex in Bremerton.
Hornets advancing to the state tournament were Carson Erwin, who placed fourth overall with a 36-hole total of 158; Jared Beals, sixth place after totaling 162 over two days and getting a playoff edge; and Dylan Miller, who wound up seventh, also posting a 162.
Five other Hornets played well enough to earn a slot into the Spring Qualifier, which allows a second opportunity to gain entry into the 3A state tourney. Those five were Josh Erickson, 163; Kidder McKee, 165; Matt Hodgman, 168; Andrew Litman, 169; and alternate Bill Miller, 170.
Enumclaw girls
The Hornet’s Lexi Dechon placed second in the two-day Medalist Tournament and earned a berth in the spring Class 3A girls state golf tournament. Dechon shot rounds of 81 and 87 to finish at 168.
Rylie McCann placed ninth with a 36-hole total of 197 and Taylor Anglin finished 11th with a score of 198; both will compete in the Spring Qualifier, getting another opportunity to join the field in the 3A state tourney.
Also competing at the Medalist Tournament for EHS were Maddison Gates and Kennedy VanHoof.
Bonney Lake boys
Senior Curtis Kolterman added to his impressive credentials, winning the Class 3A Medalist Tournament and advancing to the spring’s state tourney.
In addition, Panther teammates Connor Lees and Michael Korum advanced to the Spring Qualifier, giving them another opportunity to play in the state 3A championship. They placed 11th and 12th, respectively, at the Medalist Tournament.
Bonney Lake girls
Hayden Zumholf made the state cut, shooting 194 to claim sixth-place honors at the Medalist Tournament.
Sumner High girls
Abby Burns and Clair Selmer earned slots in the Spring Qualifier. Burns shot a combined 197 during the Medalist Tournament to place 10th while Selmer carded a 202 to finish 15th.
Also competing in the Medalist Tournament were Kate Harris, Natasha Leffel and Kayla Immel.
Sumner High boys
Advancing from the Medalist Tournament to the Spring Qualifier was Alec LaBarge, who had a two-day total of 164 to place 10th in the field.
Also competing, but not advancing, were teammates Connor Smith, Dillian Wehmer, Cameron Snow and Quinalt Mackey.
