RICHLAND — Chimacum’s Adam Barrows has seen this before. He just hasn’t experienced it first hand.
Barrows sits in fifth place out of 80 golfers after shooting a 2-under par 70 in the first round of the Class 1A state tournament at Columbia Point Golf Club in Richland on Wednesday.
He’ll be in the final group today, just like his former teammate, Chris Johnson, last year.
Johnson, who graduated last spring, went on to win the 1A state title in 2008 while Barrows missed the cut.
This time around Barrows is only three shots behind leader Jack Whealdon (67) of Ilwaco entering the final round.
“He hit the ball better than expected today,” longtime Chimacum coach Mitch Black said. “It’s just a matter of who makes the fewest mistakes. This course has a lot of moguls in it but unless the wind blows, it isn’t a hard course.
“Jack Whealdon has finished second each of the last two years. He’s a good player. If the wind doesn’t blow, there’s probably five or six kids that if they went low could make a run at it, and Adam’s got a chance. He has the ability.”
Junior Erik Nelson wasn’t too far behind his Cowboy teammate, shooting an even par 72 with five birdies.
That put him in a five-way tie for eighth place and in the fourth-to-last threesome today at 10:50 a.m.
Nelson got as low as 2-under par during the round and finished the day with a near eagle on the last hole.
SDLqHe’s amazing,” Black said. “The kid has been playing golf three years.
“Two years ago he couldn’t hit it past the first tees, and then last year he made state. He kept getting under par and then giving up bogeys here or there [on Wednesday]. It was a great round for a golfer that’s been playing three years.”
Port Townsend’s Ronnie Harrell made the cut in the 1A tournament after shooting a 78. The score was good enough for 29th place.
Each state tournament Wednesday cut its field of 80 to the lowest 40 scores, including ties.
Chimacum sophomore Mason Moug missed the cut by just two strokes after posting an 83 in his first state appearance.
He was one of several North Olympic Peninsula athletes to just miss the cut, with two golfers — Port Townsend’s Alexa Russell (1A girls) and Sequim’s Ryan O’Mera (2A boys) — each falling one stroke short.
“Ryan was on the cusp,” Sequim coach Vic Quinet said.
Port Townsend’s Jenny Grauberger shot a 101 to also miss the cut in the 1A girls tourney.
Sequim golf
YAKIMA — Sequim’s Zoei Zbaraschuk had no problem making it into the final round of the 2A girls tournament at Apple Tree Golf Resort.
The three-time state competitor stayed within reach of the top five after shooting an 84, including a 3-over par showing on the back nine, to go into the final day tied for 12th place.
“Zoei can play better and I think she will [today],” Quinet said. “She was seventh in the state last year, and she wanted to move up a couple of spots. She can do it.”
Teammate Kim Duce failed to make the cut after shooting a 114. She was one of four Wolves who didn’t move on to the final round. That included O’Mera and two other Sequim boys golfers.
While O’Mera fell one spot short with his round of 82 in the hot and windy conditions, Colby Rude shot an 83 to finish 51st and Chad Quinet put up an 85 to place 55th.
“It started blowing in the afternoon,” Vic Quinet said. “On the back nine [O’Mera] had 11 puts and shot par, so he ended on a good note.”
Even though none of his boys moved on to the final round, Vic Quinet said it was a good year for Sequim.
“In general we did really well,” he said. “I think we showed great improvement. We have a good group of kids coming back, and I think that everyone who came out improved their score this year.”
PA girls
RICHLAND — The Roughriders struggled under the 90-degree heat in the 3A girls tournament at Horn Rapids Golf Club on Wednesday.
All three state participants — Tracie DuPuis, Emily Cook and Ev Grier — missed the cut with rounds near or in the triple-digit range.
Grier came the closest to the cut (94) with a score of 99 (61st), while DuPuis and Cook both shot 103 to finish tied for 71st.
“Tracie and Emily did not hit the ball in the fairway, and they paid for it,” Port Angeles coach Mike DuPuis said. “Ev did better because she hits the ball straight.”
All three juniors are disappointed they aren’t playing the second day, but “Tracie is really disappointed because she has been here before,” DuPuis said.
“They all had pretty good years. I told them about all the girls who aren’t playing at state. I told them they should keep their heads up.”
