LIBERTY LAKE — The Sequim boys golf team tied its best finish in school history finishing second overall at the Class 2A State Golf Championships on Wednesday at Liberty Lake Golf Course near Spokane.
It was the second straight season the Wolves ended up with the second-place trophy at the state meet.
Ridgefield qualified all six of its golfers for the tournament and all six placed for the Spudders who totaled 128 points. Sequim had four golfers reach state, three making Tuesday’s cut.
Blake Wiker led the Wolves by tying for sixth place after shooting a total of 16-over-par 156 for the two-day tournament on the par-70 course. He shot a 79 on Tuesday and followed up with a 77 Wednesday.
Shea said Tuesday that Wiker’s first round was going well until an unfortunate rules decision tripped him up.
“Blake had the best front nine of anybody — a 38 on the front. No. 9 is a super-hard hole and he was probably the only guy to birdie that hole,” Shea said.
“He hit his tee shot and under the new rules of golf you have 3 minutes to search for the ball. The ball was found at 2:28 but the rules official said they were searching for more than 32 seconds before that. Blake is the most honest person in the world but she wouldn’t change her mind and I wasn’t there to challenge the decision. We didn’t feel it was a very equitable ruling. Blake had to go back and hit his third shot off the tee, so he made a triple on the hole and spiraled into some more trouble on the next few holes.”
But Wiker regained his composure and played the final four holes in 2-under-par Tuesday.
Paul Jacobsen shot a 73 in Tuesday’s opening round, closing with a 2-under-par 33 on the back nine, and was tied for the lead with eventual state champion Jordan Medcalf of Lynden entering Wednesday’s final round.
But Jacobsen struggled Wednesday, shooting an 85 to finish tied for 10th at 156. Medcalf stayed steady, shooting 74 to win the tournament by two strokes over Conrad Brown of Burlington-Edison (147-149).
Freshman Ben Sweet tied for 21st. Sweet impressed Tuesday by shooting his lowest high school round in the first round of the state tournament — a 79.
“He’s been working really hard and practicing,” Shea said after Tuesday’s play.
“He and his dad [Port Ludlow head pro Tyler Sweet] got here a day early on Saturday. He’s striking the ball really well. His low tournament round of the year was 81, so we are super pleased with his performance.”
Wednesday was more difficult as Sweet ended up with an 85.
Liam Payne missed the cut with an 89, but he went down swinging.
“Liam broke through and finally made it to state as a senior,” Shea said. “He struggled on front nine and shot 50 but he really closed well and had a 39 on the back nine.”
Port Angeles’ Cameron Fouts also shot an 89 Tuesday.
Class 1A results
Three Jefferson County golfers placed at the Class 1A boys and girls tournaments.
Port Townsend junior Jacob Madison posted rounds of 89 and 85 to finish tied for 24th in his third trip to state.
Chimacum’s Logan Storm followed up a day one 85 with a 92 to come in 28th in the boys tournament at Olympia Country & Golf Club.
Seattle Academy won the boys team title and Charles Wright’s Gyan Bains shot 72-78 to win the event by one stroke.
In the girls 1B/2B/1A tournament at Tumwater Valley, Port Townsend junior Mackenzie Lake shot rounds of 82 and 85 to finish in a tie for 10th in her third state trip.
Charles Wright’s Emersyn Walker (69, 72-141) won the tournament and the Tarriers also claimed the team title.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
