Sorenson’s got her number
Katie Sorenson has a love/hate relationship with the number 84.
The Central Valley High School senior was in Burlington early this week to compete in her second consecutive girls state Class 4A tournament at the Avalon Golf Club.
“For some reason, this year I keep shooting 84,” Sorenson said Monday on the eve of her first-round. “Last year I shot 78 or 79. This year, it’s 84.”
Predictably, Sorenson went out Tuesday and fired an opening round of, you guessed it, 84.
“Wouldn’t you just know it?” she laughed. “I had three doubles (double bogeys) out there along with nine pars. That’s what saved me.
“I pulled it out, but I wasn’t hitting it very well. I had some good scores, but there were some ugly shots in there. I got some good scores off ugly shots.”
Sorenson’s 18-hole score was easily good enough to advance her to Wednesday’s medal round for the second straight year.
Seo Hee Moon of Kamiak, playing close to home, fired a five-under 67 to take a five-shot lead after 18 holes.
Sorenson said it was much easier playing the state tournament this year after playing in last year’s event at Hangman Valley.
“There was a girl in my group who was playing this tournament for the first time and you could really tell,” she said. “I have made a lot of friends playing golf and I have a lot of friends playing here. That helps make you more comfortable.
“I ended up playing in a threesome (Tuesday) and we had a good time. One of the girls in my group shot a 78 and we had a fun round together.”
The 27-hole Avalon Golf Course earned a rave review.
“There are several holes that have water on it,” she said. “At first it kind of freaks you out, worrying about hitting into the water. But then you take a step back and take a look at the course and it is just gorgeous. The flowers and plants along the course are just beautiful – lush and green. It was a lot of fun to be out there today.
“They even went out and raked the sand traps for us – and it’s a good thing because I found a couple of them. Monday, when we played our practice round, they were hard as a rock.”
Weather cooperated for Day One.
“It was a great day to be playing golf,” Sorenson said. “It was sunny and by the end of the day it was actually hot.”
Wednesday was scheduled to be a hurried day. Sorenson was set to tee off early, play 18 holes and still catch a 4:30 p.m. flight home.
Sorenson said her four years as a Bear have flown past.
“A bunch of us seniors were just talking about that the other day,” she said. “We had our first practice inside the Golf Dome – and it’s been torn down now for years.”
This year’s Central Valley squad was young and enthusiastic.
“I really enjoyed this year’s squad,” she said. “This team is going to be very good the next three years and the future looks great. Our young golfers are really good and they’re all hungry to get better.”
And golf will remain a big part of Sorenson’s future. She’s already is looking forward to her summer job as a caddy at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.
“You have to be 19 to be a caddy and I turn 19 on June 1,” she said. “I am really excited about working there – that will be a beautiful place to spend a summer. I’m really good friends with the Parsons sisters (former University standouts and current WSU golfers Haley and Mandy Parsons), and they both work there. It will be fun to get to hang out with them all summer, too.”
Sorenson has a golf scholarship to play for the Community Colleges of Spokane golf team next year.
“I’m in Running Start and I already take classes at SCC,” she said. “I get to see (CCS golf coach Christie Delsanders) on a regular basis and I am really excited about being a part of that program.”
The Sasquatch women’s team wrapped up their ninth Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges championship in the past 11 years Monday, Delsanders has won four NWAACC titles in her five years as head coach.
“That’s a terrific program and I am really looking forward to being a part of it,” Sorenson said.