Six of the Plateau’s high school golfers guaranteed themselves a berth in the Class 2A state championships during last week’s two-day medalist tournament.
Now, they get to wait seven months to see how they stack up against other 2A golfers from around the state.
In the South Puget Sound League, golf is a fall sport that has wrapped up for the season. While some have assured their state berth, others will have a second opportunity during a May qualifying tournament. The split season will officially conclude during a May 21-22 state tourney.
Golfers from Enumclaw High and White River participated in the SPSL 2A medalist tournament October 9-10 at the Gold Mountain complex in Bremerton. On the boys’ side, the top seven finishers head directly to the state 2A tourney while the next eight will be off the spring qualifier. For the girls, the top six earned an automatic berth at state and the next eight will play in the qualifying tourney.
Here’s how things stood after 36 holes of play last week in Bremerton.
WHITE RIVER GIRLS
The powerful Hornet squad captured the SPSL 2A team championship, Lexie Mahler took the individual title and two other WRHS teammates earned a slot in May’s state tournament.
Needless to say, it was a pretty successful two-day experience for coach Anna Rose and her crew.
For Mahler, a junior, the individual title was a repeat performance. This year, she ended her two days of play two strokes under par (70-72-142). She will be joined at state by Alle Klemkow, who totaled 154 for her 36 holes, and Sophie Ross, who carded 162 after two days. All three earned state berths a season ago, but Klemkow was sidelined due to injury and could not participate.
Three other White River girls earned a berth in the spring qualifier where they will have a second opportunity at making the state tourney. Those were Abby Rose (tied for ninth place, 183), Abby Akins (12th place, 189) and Abigail Ringel (13th place, 195).
ENUMCLAW GIRLS
Four members of the EHS squad will be participating in the spring qualifier, where they will compete for a spot in the Class 2A state tournament.
Earning a qualifier berth were Emily Alicea, who placed seventh in the medalist tourney with a two-day total of 168 (86-82). Joining her will be Kate Hartman (eighth place, 85-84-169), Danika Korpe (tied for ninth, 89-94-183), and Kate Tinney (14th place, 101-113-214).
Also participating in the medalist tournament but failing to advance were Taylor Puryear, Gracie Covington and Kennedy Francis.
WHITE RIVER BOYS
Senior Kaden Ausen dominated the field during the two-day medalist tournament, earning his trip to the state championships with rounds of 70 and 66. That placed him 19 strokes ahead of the second-place finisher.
Ausen was the only White River golfer to assure himself of a state berth, but four teammates will get a second chance with the spring qualifier. Those are Gavin Weber (ninth place, 166, Kary Evans (12th place, 172), Jonah Wright (13th, 173) and Vaughn Porter (14th, 174).
Also participating in the medalist tourney, but failing to advance, were Jayson Walker, Zach Wisdom, Mason Miller and Alex Kelley.
As a team, the White River boys were champions of the medalist tournament.
ENUMCLAW BOYS
A pair of EHS Hornets, senior Tanner Nichols and freshman Wyatt Webb, have locked up a berth in May’s Class 2A state tournament. They earned a spot during last week’s medalist tourney, where Webb placed fourth, shooting rounds of 79 and 80 for a two-day total of 159; Nichols finished seventh in the field of 150 with rounds of 82 and 83 (165).
Earning a spot in the spring’s qualifying tournament were Enumclaw’s Travis Leonard (tied for seventh, 165), and Parker Cook (tied for 14th, 174).
Other EHS boys in the field (but not advancing) were Taelon Van Dam, Alex Long, Cole Kiblinger, Dylan McMahan, Landon Breidenbach, Ian Nitsche and Henry Bort.
