UNIVERSITY PLACE — The first day of the boys Class 2A state golf tournament at Chambers Bay offered up differing outcomes for teams from Port Angeles and Sequim on Wednesday.
The Roughrider boys golf team shook off an unsettling vehicle break-in during Tuesday’s practice round to advance three of four golfers to the second day of the event.
Austin Atwell finished in 22nd place with an 83, Austin Peterson was one shot back of Atwell in 26th place after a round of 84 and Micah Needham advanced after shooting an 86.
All three of Sequim’s hopefuls, Jack Shea, Travis Priest and Jesse Francis missed the cut.
Shea, a sophomore, missed advancing by one shot after a round of 88.
Priest carded a 91 and Francis a round of 103.
The top 40 and ties advanced to play today.
After the break-in, Atwell’s mom and grandmother went on a shopping trip to round up some clothing essentials for Wednesday’s round.
“Our school van and the Kingston school van was broken into during Tuesday’s practice round,” Roughriders coach Mark Mitrovich said.
“They drilled a hole into the passenger door lock and took all of our luggage.”
“The kids shook it off though, and played tough.”
Atwell faced another challenge when the head of his driver snapped off on the driving range.
Fortunately, his father was on scene with a backup to help Atwell compete on the lengthy links course.
“Alex had a 44 on the front and shot a 39 on the back to really come back strong.”
Peterson shot a 40 on the front nine to go out low for the Riders.
“He played really well and had an impressive performance,” Mitrovich said.
“In the afternoon the wind came up and that made scoring much more difficult.”
Sammamish’s Matt Maresse leads the event by six strokes over defending champion Aaron Whalen of Ephrata after posting a 7-under-par 65.
Maresse added some style points to the round with a hole-in-one on the par-3 15th hole.
“It [scoring low] can be done, but links golf is such a different animal.
“This type of golf requires so much imagination and really requires a feel.”
Clarkston and Capital also advanced three golfers to the second day and Port Angeles will compete with them for a team title today.
1A Boys State
PT’s Morton
makes cut
SPANAWAY — Port Townsend freshman Patrick Morton advanced through to the second day of the Class 1A state golf tournament after shooting a 13-over-par 85 Tuesday.
Morton finished tied for 33rd after the first day.
His teammate, junior Zack Glover, missed the cut after finishing tied for 51st with a round of 90.
Chimacum’s two hopefuls, junior Jack Hilt and sophomore Chris Bainbridge both missed the cut.
Bainbridge finished in 58th place with a 93 and Hilt was two strokes away from advancing after an 88.
“It’s a good experience, but it’s really frustrating not to make the second day. I know I can play better,” Hilt said.
Hilt was recently named first-team all Nisqually League.
Teammate James Porter, who failed to qualify for state, was named to the second-team.
“Just some poor putting on Jack’s part and Chris had some explosion holes but played pretty good most of the way,” Chimacum coach Mitch Black said.
The top 40 and ties will compete in today’s final round.
“It was amazing for Chris, given the season he had had. He really played his best rounds at the end of the year,” Black said.
“Jack got to the dance and I’d like to see him score a little bet better but they both played the best rounds they could.”
Morton stayed alive despite some issues on the recently reopened greens at Lake Spanaway.
“He had some three putts and a four-putt that hurt him today,” Redskins coach Gabriel Tonan said.
Eight of Lake Spanaway’s greens underwent a complete rebuild and five more were partially rebuilt after a fall deluge, coupled with ample shade, created fungal rot.
“The greens are very lush and that makes them slow and makes it tough to judge,” Tonan said.
