White River High stole the show last week when 140 prep golfers gathered for the Class 2A state championships.
Not only did the Buckley school produce both 2A individual state champions – Brooke Gelinas in the girls’ tournament and Zach Miller on the boys’ side – the Hornet girls captured the team title and the boys took third place.
The Class 2A state tournament saw participants gather May 24-25 to test their skills at a pair of Thurston County courses. Included among that initial statewide field – 80 boys and 60 girls – were a baker’s dozen from the Plateau. White River High was a major force with 10 golfers making the elite group, while Enumclaw High added three to the state roster.
The tourney had the 2A girls playing at Tumwater Valley Golf Course and the boys tackling the Capital City course in Olympia.
The format was the same for both: everyone played 18 holes on the opening day and the top half (including ties) advanced for another round on Day 2.
Here’s how everyone fared in the season-culminating tournament.
WRHS girls state champion Brooke Gelinas. Photo courtesy White River High School
WHITE RIVER GIRLS
The team competition wasn’t even close as White River totaled 147.50 points, more than doubling up on second-place Pullman High (71.00).
Gelinas lead the charge with a two-day total of 141, opening with a round of 69 to lead the field and posting a 72 on Day 2. She was one stroke better than runner-up Lily McCauley of Tumwater.
White River’s team dominance came from its depth. Brooke Mahler had matching rounds of 73, good for 146 and third-place honors. Lexie Mahler finished fifth by carding 78-74-152.
Joining the parade was Alle Klemkow who tied for 19th (82-92-174).
Teammate Sophie Ross also had made the prestigious state field, but was limited to just opening day after shooting 100 and landing in 39th place.
White River boys golf champion Zach Miller. Photo courtesy Amy Miller
WHITE RIVER BOYS
In the boys’ 2A competition, Miller had to play an extra hole to secure his state title. Both he and Sequim’s Ben Sweet fired back-to-back rounds of 71, leaving them deadlocked after 36 holes. Miller wasted little time earning the championship, winning in the first playoff hole.
Also qualifying for both days of state play was Hornet teammate Kaden Ausen. He opened with a 75 and improved to 71 on Day 2, finishing seventh overall.
Also earning a trip to state from White River, but failing to survive the Day 1 cut, were Lane Maras (87), AJ Mills (84) and Arthur Mijares (89).
ENUMCLAW GIRLS
The lone golfer to qualify for the Class 2A tourney was Emma Nitsche.
She opened with a 95, good for 28th place and the right to participate on Day 2. She pared three strokes from the day before, finishing at 187 and in 30th place.
ENUMCLAW BOYS
Two members of the EHS program, Jake Bort and Ben Laurnen, had qualified for the Class 2A season finale.
Each fired a round of 83 on opening day, leaving them deadlocked for 40th place and in position to play another day.
On Day 2, the EHS pair were in the first group to tee off at Capital City. Laurnen finished his second round with a 78, leaving him tied for 31st. Bort added an 81 and placed 37th.
