THEIR SEASON STARTED last week, so to prevent further delay here’s my high school boys golf preview for teams on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Port Townsend Redskins
I start with Port Townsend because it’s my dear alma mater and I was a member of head coach Gabriel Tonan’s first team after he took over for longtime coach Jim Kerns in 2000.
Tonan has a star golfer returning to the links this year in senior Ronnie Harrell.
Harrell finished 19th at the Class 1A state golf tournament as a sophomore and 31st last season but his high school highlight occurred at last year’s Tim Higgins Memorial Tournament at Kitsap Golf & Country Club in Bremerton.
His birdie chip-in from the fringe of the green on the final hole helped him card a 1-over par 72, and most importantly, snatch medalist honors away from a Central Kitsap competitor.
Harrell is joined by returners Sean Anderson, a junior, senior Andy Jauhola and sophomores Gabe Hensley and Jake Vonvolki.
Freshman Cody Piper has found a spot on the varsity as well.
“He’s [Piper} a good player, able to shoot in the 70s,” Tonan said.
With such a young squad, the Redskins will deal with inexperience this season but a key antidote in moving from a novice to a conditioned player is practice.
“I have a lot of young players, but I like that. They love to practice and they are the future of the Port Townsend High School golf team.”
Continuing a theme from last week’s girls golf preview, Port Townsend is looking forward to playing at White Horse Golf Course on Kitsap Peninsula.
The Redskins will play there twice this season.
“If you haven’t seen it [White Horse], you should.” Tonan said.
Chimacum Cowboys
Chimacum returns two-time state participant senior Erik Nelsen (15th at 1A state) and state qualifier Mason Moug (missed cut) from last season’s sixth-place finishers.
Adam Barrows was the third Cowboy golfer at state last year and played golf last fall at Olympic College in Bremerton.
Both Nelsen and Moug were named All-Nisqually League golfers last year.
A mainstay at Chimacum for many years, coach Mitch Black had this to say about Nelsen.
“In four years he has developed into one of the best players in state at the 1A level.
“He has a chance to make a big step up . . . I think he can be anywhere in the top 5 by state.”
Black was just as effusive in his praise for Moug, saying “he’s a good athlete with a big powerful swing.
“I’m sure Mason will make the state tourney again.
“He really could give us a great one-two punch by the end of the season . . . at times he’ll be No. 1 on the team.”
Another returning contributor is No. 3 Jarrett Hansen Jr., a junior in school, two-time letterman and the team’s “best guitar-player,” according to Black.
Black pointed out a freshman foursome of Jacob Ruby, Cole Lovekamp, Kevin Miller and Nathan Browning as his top newcomers.
The key to success for the Cowboys is “how fast we can get the freshmen to develop,” Black said.
Chimacum gets to play at some great courses in the Nisqually League, including Tacoma Country Club, which Black singled out as “the best,” Oakbrook Country Club, The Home Course in Dupont and The Classic, which is owned by the family of current PGA Tour player Ryan Moore.
Sequim Wolves
The Wolves took heavy hits in graduation, losing five players from last year’s team.
Returning sophomore Ryan O’Mera just missed the cut as a freshman at the Class 2A state tournament and will be counted on to lead the team this year.
Sequim coach Vic Quinet will be aided by seniors Steve Loerlein, Jake Dethlefsen, junior Josh Francis and sophomore Casey Torres.
Quinet said freshman Brendon Hudson “is showing lots of potential and will help us before the season is over.”
He wants his players to focus “on maintaining a positive attitude and peace of mind” while out on the course.
Quinet believes that Sequim success will wrest upon the players in the middle of his lineup.
“Our No. 3-5 golfers, if they play well, we will compete with the other teams in the Olympic League.”
Quinet focused on White Horse and Kitsap and Skagit Golf & Country clubs as courses his team likes to play.
He also praised Cedars at Dungeness as “the driest and best conditioned track around,” and said “the best greens are at SkyRidge.”
Quinet sure knows where his team’s bread is buttered!
Port Angeles Roughriders
Port Angeles returns sophomore No. 1 Jordan Negus, who posted an 89 average while competing in all varsity matches and the prestigious Bill Egbers Invitational last season.
Junior Ben Wetzler qualified as the Riders No. 2, senior Devin Ellsworth was No. 3, with senior Seth McHone and sophomores Bryan Schlinkmann, Tarren Grimsley, Corey Roblan and Dylan Alcafaras all returning.
Freshmen newcomers Garrett Payton and Terrance Stevenson have already done well for Port Angeles, posting scores of 41 and 44, respectively, at the season-opening jamboree at Dungeness.
Port Angeles coach Mark Mitrovich singled out Negus as the Riders’ player to watch.
“I think he’s ready for a breakthrough year, and is ready to shoot in the 70s consistently,” Mitrovich said.
“He’s a great kid, great attitude, strong work ethic and has grown about a foot since last year, and is now hitting the ball longer.”
Mitrovich likes how coachable his team has been this year, and is liking the challenges being offered up by his underclassmen.
“We can compete very well this year if we can get some consistent scoring, and in two years we will be stellar,” Mitrovich said.
Mitrovich is a master motivator, having each player fill out a notebook with personal and team goals to refer back to during the season.
“It gives them a challenge to work toward during the season and we go over them at the team banquet.”
Port Angeles plays quite a few home matches this year, so Mitrovich is looking for strong performances to garner some invites to the Egbers tourney at Skagit.
“It’s probably the best-run tournament in the state,” Mitrovich said.
He also mentioned Eagles Pride Golf Course at Fort Lewis, the home of the district competition as a challenging course to play.
Peninsula Demo Day
Peninsula Golf Club in Port Angeles will host a Wilson Golf Demo Day with representative Dave Scholtz from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Scholtz will be able to fit you with the latest from one of the oldest names in golf at “very competitive prices,” according to head pro Chris Repass.
Port Ludlow Demo slated
A short note for a huge demo day planned for Port Ludlow Golf Club from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 2.
Head man Vito DeSantis has the big names coming across the bridge: Cleveland, Ping, Nike, Callaway and Adams.
Callaway is bringing its TrackMan system to analyze “everything you ever wanted to know about your swing,” according to DeSantis.
I’ll have more on what the program can do for your game in next week’s column.
If you’re already hooked, reserve your time with the machine at 360-437-0272.
There will be special demo day discounts and purchase incentives as well.
SkyRidge events
SkyRidge Golf Course’s Spring Break Junior Golf camp for students ages 6-15 will run from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from Monday to Wednesday in Sequim.
Course staff will provide instruction for the camp.
Attendees will receive a camp T-shirt and group photo as well as snacks and drinks.
On the final day of the camp, youth golfers will head out onto the links course to play some holes.
Cost is $50 per child, with additional siblings paying $30 each.
Entry forms are available at SkyRidge Golf Course pro shop, 7015 Old Olympic Highway.
For more information, phone SkyRidge at 360-683-3673.
Port Townsend GC
Port Townsend Golf Club will host a benefit tournament for the Northwest Kiwanis Camp with a 10 a.m. shotgun start on Saturday.
The two-person best ball format comes with a lunch provided on the course.
For more information, phone the pro shop at 360-385-4547.
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Michael Carman is the golf columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column appears on Wednesdays. He can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.
