PORT TOWNSEND — Bitter weather for a bittersweet sporting event.
The first — and possibly last — prep sports contests of the spring season were held Friday at Port Townsend Golf Course.
Gov. Jay Inslee’s expanded order mandating closure of all schools and public gatherings of more than 250 people came about an hour before Port Angeles and Port Townsend boys and girls golfers teed off on a frigid day on the Quimper Peninsula.
“With the wind chill factor it was 36 degrees out,” new Redhawks golf coach Hazli Hazli Katsikapes said.
“It’s hard to build momentum when your hands are always cold. [But] everybody played consistently and the boys posted some solid scores,” Katsikapes said.
Port Townsend’s boys ended up beating the Roughriders by a score of 171 to 228.
Jacob Madison, a three-time state participant for the Redhawks, earned medalist honors with a round of 3-over par 38.
“He’s been working really hard,” Katsikapes said. “And in golf you play against yourself. It’s like that old Jack Nicklaus quote that golf is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. It’s really difficult for kids, especially with limited experience, to forget about the bad stuff. That’s kind of my job as coach, to help them get past it if they make a mistake and realize life isn’t going to implode with a bad shot or a bad hole.”
Madison had a birdie on his round as did Port Townsend’s Noa Montoya and Travis McConaghy, who each carded rounds of 44.
Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News Port Townsend’s Mackenzie Lake watches her ball roll towards the cup during a golf match against Port Angeles on Friday at Port Townsend Golf Course.
“The surprise was Travis McConaaghy, he almost holed out on No. 7,” Katsikapes said. “He was about a foot away [for birdie].”
Sam Boatman also shot a 45 to round out the Redhawks’ scores.
“Those are good scores for an opening match in those conditions,” Katsikapes said.
“You could kind of sense that they knew this might be it [the last chance to compete for a while]. Kids shrug things off pretty quick and they went out and played a good match.
“Nobody got to shake hands like normal but we worked our way around that.”
Many of the Port Angeles boys are new to the sport and were making their prep golf debuts.
“Tough weather for guys playing their first match ever,” Riders boys coach Gil Stockton said. “Everyone learned what needs working on.”
Skyler Cobb led Port Angeles with a score of 51. Leo Ahlburg added a 53, Winston Wait a 61 and Ryder Miller a 63.
Stockton is hopeful his players will continue to improve their games while on the state-mandated time away from school.
“Everyone will have the opportunity to practice the drills outlined in their team handout while on break the next six weeks,” Stockton said. “I trust they work hard on their own and be ready to play when we start up again.”
Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles’ Skyler Cobb watches the putt of Port Townsend’s Tyler Stout as it rolls toward the cup during a match on Friday at Port Townsend Golf Course.
Girls match
Port Townsend senior Mackenzie Lake shot a round of 12-over-par 47 to earn medalist honors in the girls match.
“Kenzie all week has been playing off the men’s tees, which is significantly more difficult than playing from the ladies,” Katsikapes said. “During the week she shot a qualifying round of 39 on the men’s tees, so her game has been in great shape.”
The Redhawks have two other girls players this season, but Katsikapes said they are new to the sport and weren’t ready to play a competitive round.
Port Angeles earned the win 248-257.
Kat McMahan led the Riders with a round of 54.
Piper Williams and Saylah Commerton each shot 64 and Eve Burke, a standout on the Port Angeles girls basketball team, shot a 66 in her varsity golf debut.
“Besides Kat, it was the first nine holes for everyone on the PAHS team,” Riders girls coach Chad Wagner said.
“It was really nice to get them on the golf course. We were able to edge Port Townsend for the win.
“We will wait and see what unfolds and hopefully be able to get the girls back out after the 24th of April.”
Katsikapes said the team will be able to practice Monday before the state order goes into effect, but he can’t coach them at that practice or during the break.
“We’ve been talking with all the kids about what do you want to work on and what are you working toward,” he said.
A focus on the short game has been a priority for the Port Townsend golfers.
“I can encourage them Monday to work on their short games,” Katsikapes said. “When everybody kind of evaluated their rounds it came down to putts that they missed. We’ve already developed routine at the beginning of practice.
“I want them to make 20 3-foot putts in a row. If it gets boring, make them in the left hand side of the cup, right-hand side, and the middle of cup. Or at the back end of the cup. Then move on to making 10 6-footers, then five 9-footers. It doesn’t take as long as you’d think.”
At first, Katsikapes said some team members were a little puzzled.
“They kind of look at you sideways when you tell them to hit some 3-footers, “Katsikapes said. “I’m a contractor, I know 3 feet. I told them the average length of a putter is three feet. So if we get the chance to practice again after all this, that will be where will start.
“We have to see where this whole virus restriction takes us. Hopefully, we get to have some sort of season, maybe a league championship event.”
