Aside from traveling the greatest distance, the White River High girls proved to be the most talented, winning the 28th annual Burlington-Edison Invitational Golf Tournament.

The tourney was staged April 18 at Skagit Golf and Country Club.

The world of high school golf is split in Western Washington, with the regular season contested in the fall. In other parts of the state, it’s a spring sport and the state tournament is staged toward the end of the school year.

In the spring, local golfers are allowed to practice and participate on a limited basis, leading up to state play.

Thus, White River’s entry into the Burlington-Edison Invite features a unique scoring system. To qualify for team honors, three golfers must shoot a full 18 holes while at least three others play just nine.

White River finished with a team score of 346 to take top honors in the 17-team field.

Leading the way for White River were seniors Brooke Mahler and Brooke Gelinas. Mahler fired a round of 76 to tie for first place after 18 holes, then lost a tie-breaker to Ellie Evans from Mercer Island High School. Gelinas took third-place honors, just a stroke behind the leaders after carding a 77.

Others representing White River on a blustery day were Lexie Mahler, Abby Rose, Sophie Ross and Alle Klemkow.

Success is nothing new to the Hornet girls’ squad. Three golfers have already guaranteed themselves a spot in May’s state Class 2A tournament, based on their achievements during the fall regular season. That trio consists of Gelinas and both Mahler sisters, Brooke and Lexie.

Still with a shot at making a state appearance are Rose, Klemkow and Ross. At the close of the fall season, they earned a berth in the May 17 state qualifier, which will be contested at The Cedars at Dungeness.

The 2A state tourney is set for May 24-25 in Thurston County. Girls will be playing the Tumwater Valley course while the boys will be nearby in Olympia, playing the Capitol City Golf Club.