BREMERTON — Sequim’s Ben Sweet and Dominic Riccobene finished first and second individually as the Wolves qualified three golfers directly to the state tournament while storming to a 19-stroke victory at the Olympic League Boys Golf Championship at Kitsap Golf & Country Club on Monday.
Sweet fired an 8-over-par 79 to win the league championship on the twisting and turning par-71 Kitsap layout and will be joined at state by Riccobene, one stroke back with an 80, as well as Cole Smithson, who fired a 14-over-par 85 to book a state berth.
“The course was playing tough and the nerves were high with state and district bids on the line,” coach Sean O’Mera said. “Ben and Dom stood out to me with their solid play: neither of them had their best games, but in a sign of their ability, they just flat-out got it done. They grinded and produced a score on a tough day.”
Smithson sealing up a state bid was a bit of a surprise, although he had been playing his best golf of the spring to close out the regular season.
“Cole on the other hand just played his best round of golf ever in a tournament,” O’Mera said. “He really was incredible. For him to shoot that round on that day in that tournament with a state berth on the line — wow, that was fantastic! I think a realistic goal was for Cole to play well and make it to districts. Him going directly to state is truly fantastic.”
Pryce Glasser finished ninth with a 91 to advance to the district tournament, which is set for Tuesday at The Cedars at Dungeness.
The top seven placers advanced to the state tournament while the next nine players moved on to the district event and will have a chance to qualify for state, so the Wolves could still have a full complement of players to compete for a state team championship.
“Pryce’s swing let him down a bit, but I know he will come back. We are excited to have a week to prepare for districts at Cedars next Tuesday,” O’Mera said.
Sequim, undefeated Olympic League regular season champs, finished with 335 strokes while Kingston and North Kitsap tied for second with 354 and Port Angeles was fourth with 379.
Lars Wiker and Zack Thompson also played for Sequim but didn’t advance.
The Roughriders qualified three players for the district tournament.
Edun Bailey and Nate Anderson tied for 12th place with rounds of 23-over-par 94. Freshman Phoenix Flores squeeked in with a 95, good for 15th place, while Austin Worthington missed out by one stroke with a 96.
“I’m proud of these young men,” coach Bob Anderson said.
“As we move forward as a young team, we’re recognizing how to handle the pressures of tournament play. There are some great competitors in our league.”
The Class 2A state tournament will be held at Olympia’s Capitol City Golf Club on May 24-25.
Port Angeles girls win title
BREMERTON — Port Angeles’s Piper Williams claimed the Olympic League girls golf title as the Roughriders qualified three golfers for the state tournament while winning the Olympic League Girls Golf Championship on Monday.
Williams fired a round of 95 to earn match medalist honors at Kitsap Golf & Country Club. Freshman Claire Osterberg posted a 102 and sophomore Lauryn Chapman a 104 to also reach state for the Roughriders.
“The PA girls picked a great time to play really well with state berths on the line,” coach Mike DuPuis said. “For us to take three of the five automatic bids to state was a pleasant surprise.”
Katie Marchant rounded out the scoring with a 117 as Port Angeles totaled 420 points, edging Sequim (430).
Marchant and Mia Neff will have another chance to qualify for state at the district tournament on Tuesday at The Cedars at Dungeness.
“I am extremely proud of these young ladies,” DuPuis said. “They have worked very hard this year and have exceeded all of their expectations. Their improvement from the start of the season to now is outstanding. I’m excided to see what lies ahead for them.”
Sequim’s Hannah Wagner finished fourth and will head to state after shooting a 98.
The Class 2A state tournament will be held at Tumwater Valley Golf Course on May 24-25.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
