Golfers from throughout the South Puget Sound League 2A gathered Oct. 12-13 for an end-of-season tourney and, when the last putt dropped, Enumclaw High’s boys stood at No. 1.
After taking six athletes to Bremerton’s Gold Mountain Golf Course, coach Ryan Picinich saw five players advance to springtime, postseason tournaments. A pair of Hornets, freshman Travis Leonard and sophomore Dylan McMahan, played well enough to guarantee themselves a berth in the Class 2A state tournament. Leonard carded an 83 on the opening day of the league tourney, then improved to 80 on the second day, placing fifth in the field. McMahan started with an 88, came back with an 82 and placed seventh.
Additionally, three EHS players posted numbers that landed them in next spring’s state qualifying tournament, which allows a second chance at making the Class 2A championship. That trio includes senior Jake Bort (90-81, 8th place); junior Tanner Nichols (88-87, 10th place); and junior Alex Long (94-88, 115th place).
Also playing in the league tourney, but failing to advance, was freshman Taelon Van Dam.
Day 1 of the league tourney had teams facing off and Enumclaw rolled to 112 team points, good for a 7-0 tourney record. During the regular season, the EHS boys went 13-2 and tied with White River and Orting for the top spot.
WHITE RIVER GIRLS
White River star Lexie Mahler, a sophomore who was voted Player of the Year for the SPSL 2A, will represent the Hornets next spring at the Class 2A state championships.
She earned her berth during last week’s two-day league tourney in Bremerton, where she easily outdistanced the rest of the field. She opened with a round of 72 then added a 74, giving her a 10-stroke lead over the No. 2 finisher.
Also, a trio of White River juniors had two-day scores advancing them to the spring qualifying tourney, which allows a second chance at making it to state. The three included Alle Klemkow (80-84, 7th place), Sophie Ross (83-89, 9th place) and Abby Rose (90-95, 11th place).
Also participating in the league tournament but not advancing were sophomore Abigail Ringel and freshman Abby Akins.
WHITE RIVER BOYS
White River High junior Kaden Ausen will be heading to next spring’s Class 2A state championship, based on an outstanding performance at last week’s SPSL 2A tournament.
At the same time, teammate Jayson Walker, also a junior, earned a berth in the spring qualifier. That tourney gives select golfers a second chance at making the state tourney.
Ausen crushed the rest of the league field at Bremerton’s Gold Mountain, taking No. 1 honors. He opened with a round of 75 and added a most impressive 68; his two-day total of 143 was eight strokes better than the second-place finisher.
Walker finished in 13th place after firing rounds of 93 and 84.
Also competing for White River at the league tournament, but failing to advance, were junior Mason Arnold, sophomores Kary Evans and Austin LaLonde, and freshman Zach Wisdom.
ENUMCLAW GIRLS
Three players from the Enumclaw High girls’ golf program have earned the right to play again in next spring’s postseason tournaments.
They advanced by virtue of performances in last week’s SPSL 2A end-of-season tournament at Bremerton’s Gold Mountain Golf Course.
Topping the list is junior Emily Alicea, who earned a direct berth to the Class 2A state tourney. She qualified by firing rounds of 84 and 79, good for fourth place in the league tourney.
Teammates Raegan Chevalier, a senior, and Danika Korpe, a junior, will next play in the spring qualifying tournament, which gives golfers a second shot at filling the state tourney roster. At the league tournament, Chevalier had rounds of 86 and 96 to place 10th in the field; Korpe went 96-91 and placed 13th.
EHS junior Kate Hartman is the league’s first alternate to the spring qualifier. She tied for the final spot, but lost in a playoff. Also playing in the league tourney but not advancing was junior Kate Tinney.
