SEQUIM — Disappointment for area girls golfers and excitement for the Sequim boys team in its last-ditch attempt to qualify for the Class 2A state golf tournament at The Cedars at Dungeness on Tuesday.
The Wolves hosted the West Central District golf tournament on their home course.
In the girls tournament, none of the competitors from Sequim or Port Angeles were able to join teammates who qualified directly for state at last week’s Olympic League Championships.
Port Angeles is sending Class 2A league champ Piper Williams, Claire Osterberg and Lauryn Chapman to the Class 2A state girls golf championship at Meadowwood Golf Course in Liberty Lake near Spokane, while Sequim’s Jelissa Julmist also qualified for state last week.
In district play, Mia Neff shot a 102 on the par-72 course, finishing tied for seventh for Port Angeles with Emma Swenson of Franklin Pierce, nine strokes behind the fifth and final state qualifier.
Ava Johnson fired a round of 109 for Sequim, while Emily Post shot 111, Sara German posted a 116 and Isabella Williams carded a 125 for the Wolves.
The results were far sweeter for the Sequim boys.
After struggling at the league championships, the Wolves’ top three players, Zack Thompson, Carter Cronin and Cole Smithson, all made it through to the Class 2A state boys golf championship at Liberty Lake Golf Course.
Cronin was the overall first-place qualifier, beating out Smithson and Enumclaw’s Tanner Nichols in a playoff after all three players shot rounds of 8-over-par 80.
Thompson was the sixth and final qualifier with an 83.
Port Angeles’ Nate Anderson (86), Austin Worthington (87) and Cale Wentz (92) all missed the state cutoff.
The Roughriders are sending state returners Edun Bailey and league champ Phoenix Flores to state, a 36-hole event with an 18-hole cut. Play begins Monday morning at both tournament sites.
“I really enjoy watching these kids compete,” Port Angeles coach Bob Anderson said.
“Our team goal was to send our guys to state, and we felt the sting of some great competition today. As a team, we’ll circle the wagons and take in the lessons. We definitely give props to SHS and Cedars for putting together a great program for these kids, and we also thank Cedars for the hospitality today, which is top notch.”