Golfers from all four local high schools will cross the Cascades later this month to play their state tournament rounds. And while some have already punched their state tickets, others have a last chance at playing their way into the state field.
Prep golf in this part of Washington is a two-part affair, with the boys and girls regular seasons contested in the fall and state competition in the spring. While top golfers earn state berths during “medalist tournaments” at the conclusion of the fall season, others get a second chance during “spring qualifiers.” Those will be played May 15 at the Gold Mountain complex in Bremerton.
All state tournaments will be staged May 23-24 in Eastern Washington.
The Class 4A tourney is set for the Spokane area, with boys playing at Liberty Lake and girls at Meadowwood; the Class 3A tourney will see boys playing the Columbia Point course in Richland while the 3A girls are at Canyon Lakes in Kennewick; and the 2A tournament in Spokane has boys at The Creek at Qualchan and girls at Indian Canyon.
WHITE RIVER
White River girls already assured of competing at state are Taylee Goethals, Georgia Lavinder, Sofia Lavinder and Taylor Spooner, all juniors who guaranteed their berths in the fall.
Getting a second chance at state are junior Megan Cash, sophomore Alex Frederich and freshman Emma McGregor, who will play Monday in the qualifying tourney at Gold Mountain.
Heading to state on the boys side are junior Cooper Franklin, sophomore Joe Flanigan and sophomore Brock Keller, who qualified in the fall. Participating in the spring qualifier will be sophomore Drew Thompson.
ENUMCLAW
Following 36 holes of play at the medalist tournament, Enumclaw’s Jared Beals, Kidder McKee and Matt Hodgman advanced to the coming state tournament. Beals and McKee are seniors and Hodgman is a junior.
Senior Andrew Littman will play in the upcoming qualifying tournament.
Among EHS girls, senior Lexi Dechon will again be playing in the state tournament.
Playing in the spring qualifier – keeping their hopes alive for the state tournament – will be sophomore Taylor Anglin and freshman Emma Murphy.
BONNEY LAKE
Senior Bryson Wilhite won a playoff in the fall to finish seventh at the medalist tournament and gain automatic entry to the state tourney in the Tri-Cities.
Hoping to join their teammate are three Panther boys who will play May 15 in the spring qualifier at Gold Mountain: seniors Michael Korum and Kyle Jung, along with junior Eric Hughes. They are part of a field of 14, all vying for the final nine state berths.
SUMNER
The Panther program will have three golfers participating in the spring qualifier, hoping to land a spot in the state tournament. At Gold Mountain, the 3A qualifier will have 39 boys competing for 13 state berths and 36 girls chasing a dozen slots into state.
Playing in the the girls qualifier for Bonney Lake will be juniors Abby Burns and Anna Seaton. For the boys, sophoomore Alex LaBarge will participate.
