Golfers set to tee off

There’s an old joke about a guy being stopped for directions in New York City. “How do I get to Carnegie Hall,” he’s asked. “Practice, practice, practice,” he anwers.

Turns out, that’s exactly how you get to Myrtle Beach, S.C.

East Valley boys golf coach John Twining has his Knights entered in what’s considered the biggest high school golf tournament in the country, the 10th annual Spring Palmetto High School Golf Championship, April 5 to 7, at the South Carolina community known for its destination golf resorts.

“I started looking for a tournament like this that I could take the team to,” Twining said. “When I first saw this tournament, I thought about scheduling it for next year. But the dates don’t work as well for next year, but they do for this year. We’ll be spending spring break at Myrtle Beach – I expect it will be crowded there.”

The tournament boasts more than 100 golf teams from 13 states, including Alabama, California, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin, and three more teams from Canada.

The 54-hole tournament will be played on 13 area courses. The first day is an 18-hole qualifying round that will flight the various teams, followed by a 36-hole tournament.

Since taking over the program in 2003, Twining has invested time and energy since taking over the golf program, raising money to invest in practice time on local golf courses and hybrid clubs for his golfers.

Plans to enter the East Coast tournament were not finalized until recently, and the eight golfers entering must pay for their own airfare.

“When I came to them with this idea, I wasn’t sure how many would be able to go,” the coach said. “But everyone committed and we got right after fundraising to make it happen.

“I’m paying for our accommodations while we’re there. I’ve rented a lovely house for us to stay in so that everyone has a bed to sleep in. The last thing you want kids to do is fly across country and then have to sleep on the floor.”

Not surprisingly, the Knights have immediately become the envy of other squads.

“We’ve had golfers from Central Valley and University ask us if there’s an opening,” Twining laughed. “Or if they can caddy.”

The whole idea is to expose East Valley golfers to some of the nation’s premier golf courses and provide them with a life experience they are unlikely to forget.

“They may not ever get a chance like this again,” the coach said. “This is a chance for them to play a college-style tournament and see some of the opportunities that the sport offers.”

Central Valley Bears

Girls coach Rick Giampietri has numbers on his side.

The Bears have a solid group of seniors on its varsity, led by Katie Sorenson, who missed the season opener at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Clarkston Monday.

“She’s the only real experience I have back,” Giampietri said. “But I do have a solid group of seniors that will be the varsity and then I have a really good group of freshmen and sophomores that we have out working with Molly Thola at Trailhead at Liberty Lake.

“If they stick with the lessons and keep working at it, we should be in pretty good shape the next few years.”

The CV boys graduated former state Class 4A champion Nate Grigsby, but have solid group led by seniors Jase Rouleau and Ben Haynes.

East Valley Knights

Twinings has what he thinks is his best group yet.

“The first year or so, we were happy to have everyone on the varsity break 100,” he said. “Then it was getting everyone to break 90. This year we should be shooting in the 70s with our top guys and everyone should shoot in the low 80s or better.”

Juniors Ben Johnson and Danny Marshall came close to qualifying for the state Class 3A tournament a year ago. Johnson missed the cut by a stroke and Marhsall lost in a playoff.

Sophomore Trevor Ragen has come on strong since last year.

“Trevor got a job at The Links over the summer and he played every single day,” the coach said. “He’s gotten very serious about his game.”

The free-swinging Marshall, who stands in at 6-foot-6, blossomed last year once Twining got him fitted with longer clubs.

The Knights girls are led by three-time state tournament qualifier Ashley Saffle and returning state veteran Ashley Grater, both seniors.

Sophomore Jenni White shot a 94 in Clarkston and will bolster what coach Rob Collins feels will be one of the school’s best teams ever.

University Titans

The Titan boys will be led by sophomore Hank Frame, who was second in the Class 4A district tournament a year ago.

Frame will be joined by veteran senior Wes Millard and seniors Matt Mathison, Jack Hluboky and Casey Olson.

Frame shot a first-round 73 at the state tournament, placing ninth to advance to the second round. He shot a second-day 77 to finish tied for 19th in his first state appearance.

Girls coach Mike Ganey has a familiar face on his squad: freshman Kaitlen Parsons, younger sister of former U-Hi standout twins Mandy and Haley Parsons, both members of the current Washington State University women’s team.

“She plays just like her sisters,” Ganey said. “That whole family are all great athletes.”

Joining Parsons on the varsity are seniors Kristin Whitacre, Stephanie Davis, Jaclyn Numata and Kelsie Arnold.

West Valley Eagles

The Eagles have some time to get ready.

West Valley’s home course, Hangman Valley, has yet to open and girls coach Dave Marlow has yet to get his golfers out on a course.

The first tournament for the Great Northern League is March 26, meaning both teams have a full week to prepare for their first appearance in their new league.

Boys coach Craig Whitney has three experienced seniors to lead the way: Greg Thompson, Brad Roth and Ryan Hammersky.

Marlow’s squad will be led by junior Jordyn Sodorff, who is a good bet to qualify for the state Class 2A tournament.

“She was a good three strokes over what their cutoff point was last year,” Marlow said. “And she should just keep getting better and better.”

Playing in a new league will be a boon to the Eagle girls, the coach said.

“It’s was tough for us to compete with some of the GSL teams, especially the ones that have a lot more golfers to draw from,” Marlow said. “I had girls in tears after some of the tournaments last year. This year we’ll be on a more even footing against the GNL.”

Freeman Scotties

The Freeman boys will be led by junior Max Riggs, a two-time state qualifier and last year’s Northeast A League runner-up, junior Ferman Pasold, a returning state qualifier, and senior Jake Floch, an alternate to state last year.

Coach Dave Teague figures he can field a team of six golfers all capable of shooting in the 70s.

The Freeman girls will be led by two-time state qualifier Darby Moberg, a junior and the defending NEA League champion. She’s joined by senior Rechelle Lewis.