Last weeks golf round-up includes March 18 at Cedarcrest and March 20 at Battle Creek

Coach Jack Rice reported that with only two weeks of practice under tough conditions the Friday Harbor golf team did well in their first match of the season. Both Cedar Park and Evangel are new programs so they didn’t have any players post a score. “We all start in the same place and it’s great to welcome two new programs to our league,” Rice said.

Highlights for the day were provided by a number of players. Junior Jack Hess has been playing Washington Junior events this spring and is a returning State contender. On the downhill 298-yard par-four sixth hole, he drove the green and had a 15-footer for an eagle. He lipped out the putt but it made for an easy birdie. He went on to be the medalist for the day without much competition.

Sophomore, Randy Rebhan who is rather new to the program, flushed an eight iron on the par 3 number 2 hole to within eight feet. As luck would have it, he also lipped out his putt for birdie to record his first under-par score in completion. Randy went on to score a 49 in his first match of the season.

Returning State competitor Morgan Douglass got off to a slow start of the first tee. She then nailed a 3 wood to the 150-yard marker. Her iron to the green left her with a 20-footer. She was able to salvage a bogey with an easy two-putt. First shot, off the first tee, in our first match, even the Coach would be nervous.

Akira Tokunaga another State competitor, was medalist for the ladies with a fine score of 48. It’s been a long winter for Akira but we expect some great golf from of her as the season progresses.

On the Coaching side, both Coach Waite and Coach Rice both got over 8000 steps in. It was a great day for everybody.

The final scores were:

Friday Harbor Boys Team

Jack Hess 39

Fisher Goosman 49

Randy Rebhan 49 Low 4 Players 188

Finn Graham 51

Dylan Lawson 53

Friday Harbor Ladies Team

Akira Tokunaga 48 Low 2 Players 103

Morgan Douglass 55

Lilly Taylor 63

The team headed to Battle Creek Golf Club Thursday, March 20. This was the site of last year’s TriDistrict Tournament “We expect the same course to be awarded the tournament again this year. With that in mind, Friday Harbor golf team traveled to Everett to not only play a match but get a practice round for the coming tournament season. Heritage was gracious enough to allow Friday Harbor to bring the majority of our current team,” Rice said.

Highlights for the day were provided by a number of players. Sophomore, Sam Herda was clicking on all cylinders and became medalist for the day with a score of 44. Sam concentrated on fairways and greens and didn’t make any big mistakes. Battle Creek holes are heavy timber lined and put a premium on accuracy. Some of the holes are so tight you almost need to walk single file down the fairway. Sam played conservatively by using a utility wood off a number of tees. His strategy paid off with a fine score of 44.

Sophomores, PJ Nixon and Randy Rebhan both had a tough day in the rain. It actually got so wet that on a couple of swings the clubs flew right out of their hands. The 9th hole at Battle Creek is a downhill par 3 over a big creek. Both PJ and Randy ended up in the large sand trap protecting the green. Randy was the first to hit and exploded his ball within six feet of the hole. PJ, not to be outdone, knocked his to within one foot. Both players made their putt to finish the day with a sandy par three on the final hole.

Morgan Douglass set the pace for the ladies with a fine score of 48. Morgan is mentoring new player Lily Taylor who is new to the team this year. Teaming up with better players is the best way to learn and to improve your game. Akira Tokunaga is doing the same thing with freshman James Hollingsworth. James is a freshman at Spring Street and is new to the island. “We’re excited about all the new lady’s talent,” Rice said.

The final scores were as follows:

Friday Harbor Boys Team

Sam Herda 44

Jack Hess 46

Fisher Goosman 49

PJ Nixon 54

Randy Rebhan 58 Low 4 Players 193

Oliver Grifo 61

Dylan Lawson 62

Tulalip Heritage Boys Team

Davien Park 54

Nico Pablo 56

JD Rinker 61 Low 4 Players 233

William McLean 62

Hailen Pierce 63

Friday Harbor Ladies Team

Morgan Douglass 48 Low 1 Players 48

Akira Tokunaga 57

James Hollingsworth 58

Lilly Taylor 60

Tulalip Heritage Ladies Team

Lily Jefferson 59 Low 1 Players 59

Contributed photo Morgan Douglass tees off at the first match of the season.