Sequim, with two Bi-District champions, will be leading the charge for North Olympic Peninsula athletes at the state golf championships starting today around the state.
Zoei Zbaraschuk and Ryan O’Mera were District 2-3 medalists for the Wolves and will be players to watch at the Class 2A tournament today and Thursday at Apple Tree Golf Resort in Yakima.
Sequim will have five golfers in the boys and girls competition while Port Angeles has three girls in the 3A tournament, Chimacum features three boys in 1A action, and Port Townsend has three athletes in the 1A boys and girls meets.
Zbaraschuk a favorite
Junior Zbaraschuk, who captured 21st at state as a freshman and seventh as a sophomore last year, is one of the favorites at 2A girls.
She went undefeated in the Olympic League and won district for the second year in a row. Zbaraschuk claimed sixth at district as a freshman.
Joining Zbaraschuk at state is teammate Kim Duce, who is seeded fifth from District 2-3.
The two had a practice round at Apple Tree on Tuesday.
It was 78 degrees and sunny on the course.
“It was perfect,” Sequim girls coach Garrett Smithson said.
“It was a little windy, but otherwise a great day.”
Sequim boys coach Vic Quinet agreed about the beautiful weather.
“This is the first time this year I had to get out the suntan lotion,” he said.
Challenging course
Apple Tree is not a normal course.
“It is a little more of a challenge than the courses we are used to,” Smithson said. “This course has water, big greens and blind shots.”
Both Duce and Zbaraschuk had good practice rounds on Tuesday, though, and are ready to go, Smithson added.
“Zoei’s attitude is one of the best I have ever seen when it comes to the game of golf,” Smithson said. “She’s just happy to be here, the same as Kim.”
Zbaraschuk tees off today at 10:57 a.m. as the Bi-District No. 1 seed while Duce tees off at 11:24 a.m. as the fifth seed.
The top 40 girls from today advance to play the final round Thursday.
O’Mera, meanwhile, will be one of the favorites in the boys meet as the District2-3 champion.
Joining O’Mera at state are teammates Chad Quinet, eighth seed, and Colby Rude, ninth seed from Bi-District.
This could be quite the start to his high school career for O’Mera, who is just a freshman.
Sequim boys coach Vic Quinet doesn’t think that O’Mera’s youth will affect him too much.
“Ryan will be playing against upper classmen but he is used to playing in tournaments. And he is a pretty good golfer.”
O’Mera has been playing in Washington Junior Golf Association tournaments since he was 7 or 8 years old, Vic Quinet said.
And all three Sequim state players have WJGA experience.
Rude and Chad Quinet are both seniors.
All three did well in a practice round Tuesday.
“They were getting used to the feel of the greens,” Vic Quinet said. “At home when your shot lands, it doesn’t move. But here you’ll pick up an extra 10 to 20 yards when it lands.”
O’Mera tees off at 7:39 a.m., followed by Quinet, 9:27 a.m. and Rude, 9:36 a.m.
The top 40 boys from today make Thursday’s final cut.
1A tournament
Port Townsend and Chimacum will be represented at the 1A tourney today and Thursday at Columbia Point Golf Club at Richland.
The Cowboys feature Erik Nelson (ninth seed), Adam Barrows (17th seed) and Mason Moug (33rd seed) in the boys event while Ronnie Harrell will golf for the Redskins as the 15th seed.
Port Townsend also has two girls playing, including 11th seed Alexa Russell and 13th seed Jenny Grauberger.
3A Roughriders
The Riders will have three girls competing at Horn Rapids Golf Club in Richland today and Thursday.
Tracie DuPuis is the 19th seed while Emily Cook will play at the District 3-4 26th seed and Ev Grier is set at the 29th seed.
The Roughrider boys won’t be represented at state as standout golfer Scott Kilzer just missed the state cut by two strokes at the Bi-District championships.
“Scott shot an 83, and the cut was at 81, which is pretty low,” Port Angeles coach Mark Mitrovich said. “Scott competed well. He deserved to go to state.
“Four kids shot 82, just missing the cut by one to show how competitive it was.
