Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

Neither wind, nor rain nor cold could keep Sequim High’s golfers from the state tournament.

Five SHS players and an alternate are in Whatcom County this week for the class 2A state tourney, scheduled for May 20-21.

Leading the way for the girls is Zoei Zbaraschuk, who needed a playoff hole to edge Foster’s Mallory Kent for West Central District medalist last week. Zbaraschuk and Kent both battled wind and rain to shoot 90 for 18 holes at Fort Lewis Golf Course on May 13. Zbarachuk won on the first playoff hole.

“Zoei wasn’t thrilled about the (round of) 90,” Sequim coach Garrett Smithson said. “They were just two solid competitors.”

In 2007, Zbaraschuk qualified for the state tourney as a freshman and finished tied for 21st overall.

She’s joined by senior Phoebe Haglin, also a state competitor in 2007, who finished tied for fifth at districts with a 102, and freshman Kim Duce, who shot an eighth-place round of 120.

Sequim’s Medea Bernsten (135) and Lisa Doan (146) did not advance, both missing the cut of 132.

Of the 21 girls competing at districts at Fort Lewis, 11 made the state cut.

On the boys’ side, junior Colby Rude is returning to the state 2A tournament after shooting a round of 89, tying for 10th place with senior teammate Bryce Gange. Last year, Rude finished with an 85 and missed the first-day cut at the state tourney.

Junior Sean Lindstedt shot a 92 at districts and is a second alternate to state; he’ll travel with the team this week and be available to play if there are golfers who pull out of the state tourney.

“The leader after nine holes was at plus-seven,” Smithson said, noting the poor scores for all golfers on Fort Lewis’ long course marred by bad weather. “I told (the players) to just get on to the greens and make par or bogey and they’ll be fine.”

Brendon Gilles shot a 93 and just missed an alternate state berth.

Of the 24 competitors at districts, 13 boys advanced to state.



On to state

The girls’ state tournament is at Homestead Golf Course in Lynden, while the boys’ state tourney is at Loomis Trail Golf Course in Blaine. Only half of the 80 competitors in each tourney make the second-round cut.

Homestead, Smithson said, looks wider than the Fort Lewis course and can be longer than what Sequim’s players are used to. The Wolves’ girls were scheduled to play a practice round there May 19.

“Zoei can get a top-10 finish if she can put two good rounds together,” Smithson said. “She gets really nervous and anxious out there. On the district playoff hole, her knees were shaking over the putt.”

Haglin, Smithson said, is a good candidate for a top-20 finish but needs to put two solid rounds together as well, Smithson said. In 2007, Haglin missed the first-round cut after shooting a round of 99.

For Duce, the freshman, state should be a good experience and set the stage for future years, Smithson said.

The boys play at Loomis Trail Golf Course in Blaine, a narrower course with more water hazards.

In both cases, the courses figure to have fast-playing greens, Smithson said. The boys also were scheduled to play a practice round May 19 to prepare for state.

“Bryce and Colby can make the cut for sure,” Smithson said, noting that both have a good chance to make the top 20.

“Colby missed the cut by one shot last year,” Smithson said. “Bryce is a solid player. If he can just keep his composure and keep it in play, he’ll be fine.”



Sequim at state

Follow Sequim High’s golfers at the state tournament meet at the WIAA Web site at www.wiaa.com/athletics/golf/. Click on the “first round” or “final results” links. See sequimgazette.com/sports for Sequim player results.