Submitted by Coach Jack Rice.
The Eighth Annual Friday Harbor Invitational hosted 52 golfers from seven different schools at the San Juan Golf Club on Friday, May 5. Freshman Jack Hess posted a personal best score of 81 to tie for the medalist honors with senior Jaxon Perry from MVC. On a sudden-death playoff on the first hole, Jaxon was able to win by one shot. The FHI was created as a dress rehearsal for the District Tournament.
This year’s district will be hosted at the famous Loomis Trail Golf club next week. Jack was disappointed he didn’t win medalist honors alone but he was reminded that next week he has a good chance to bring home the gold when it really counts. Sophomore Morgan Douglass posted a solid 116 to place third in the lady’s division. Morgan was right behind winner Livi Burton from MVC at 103 and Lili Malo from La Conner with a 107. Both Livi and Lili are seniors and played in the state tournament last year.
To have even more fun, we offered a number of games for the players. We had closest to the pin on the par threes and long drive on hole four for both men and women. Friday Harbor’s Reese Tangney hammered a dive on 4 about 210 right down the middle to win the long drive contest for the ladies. I guess those afternoon workouts in the gym are really paying off! After a beautiful week of spring weather, the rain returned. From the minute the first ball was struck until the last putt in the playoff, it didn’t stop raining. I can’t say enough for the team’s attitude. Not one player came up to me and asked to quite or drop out because of the conditions. This is a great group of tough, young golfers!
Wednesday, May 10, we head north to Loomis Trail, site of our District 1 Tournament to start our journey to the high school state tournament. The boys’ team will be made up of freshman Jack Hess, Junior Ryan Rautenberg, freshman Finn Graham, 8th grader Sam Herda and sophomore Fisher Goosman. Two 8th graders, Dylan Lawson and PJ Nixon will battle it out on Monday to see who wins the final seat in the van. This is a really young team with a lot of great golf left in their high school careers.
On the lady’s side, we will field 4 players this year. Sophomore Morgan Douglass will lead the team along with junior Reese Tangney, junior Janna Rajczi and 8th grader Akira Tokunaga.
My stock portfolio will attest to how bad I am at predicting the future but this is my best guess after seeing the level of play at our dress rehearsal in the FHI. I’d bet we move all six men and all four ladies to the next level of completion to the bi-district Tournament. As to who moves onto the big show, the state tournament, I’ll hold that prediction for a future date.
Friday Harbor High School is the only team in our league to host an 18-hole event. Tournaments like this don’t just happen. We couldn’t do it without my two assistants, Gordy Waite and Tim Clark. So many others to thank: SJ Club Ladies Golf Association and the SJ Golf and Tennis Foundation for sponsoring the pizza party after the event; Haleys for providing 15 great pizza’s to feed over 60 people; the Board and membership at the SJ Golf Club for allowing us to take over the golf course for a day; the maintenance crew for showcasing our great little golf course; Davan and crew at the golf club; Marcus King our new teaching Pro for bringing a real level of professionalism and class to our tournament; and all the unnamed helpers who jumped in to make this such a special day for over 50 young aspiring golfers. A big thank you too all…. Coach Jack
2023 Friday Harbor Invitational Final Result
Men Results
Friday Harbor Low 4 golfers: 375
Jack Hess 81 Tie for Medalist
Sam Herda 97
Ryan Rautenberg 98
Finn Graham 99
Fisher Goosman 104
PJ Nixon 117
Dylan Lawson 128
Mt Vernon Christian 352 1 st Place Team
Jaxon Perry 81 Tie for Medalist
Billy DeJong 87
Owen Carlson 91
Andrew Stogner 93
Sean Russell 98
Graham Campbell 104
Charlie Swaney 106
Orcas 416
Tommy Anderson-Cleveland 85
Joshua Spinner 98
Tim Malo 110
Paxton White 123
Lopez Island 509
Uli Velazquez 114
Henry Robles 124
Deston Dupuis 129
Bryan Coro 142
La Conner 358
Gage Tenborg 84 3 rd Place
Sammy Williams 87
Corran Elisen 88
Brooks Bushey 99
Jimbo Bobb 100
Tyler Cicotte 129
Grace Academy
Colton Leigh 101
Kyle Struiksma 105
Brodie Turner 117
Lummi Nation
Rayshawn Bob 52
Peyton Brockie 59
Ladies Results:
Friday Harbor Low 2 golfers: 240
Morgan Douglas 116 3 rd Place
Akira Tokunaga 124
Reese Tangney 148
Mt Vernon Christian 229 1 st Place Team
Livi Burton 103 Medalist
Alyssa Pringle 126
Orcas 232
Lili Malo 107 2 nd Place
Vera Sasan 125
Nisha Woolworth 141
Lopez Island 253
Melissa Valencia 124
Mirabella Velo 129
Naeva Flora 136
La Conner 378
Hallie Walls 138
Natalee Koch 140
Grace Academy
Emily Hegnes 121
