Ferris Has Tough Course To Repeat Only Two Saxons Boys At State Golf

Ferris can still repeat as boys State 4A golf champion, but the feat would be twice as difficult as last year.

District 8 4A champion Ryan Camp and defending State 4A champion Corey Prugh, both seniors, were the only Ferris golfers to qualify for the 2000 state tournament. The two-day event begins today at Sudden Valley Golf Course in Bellingham.

Ferris had four golfers place in the top seven at last year’s state tourney in Kelso. Two of those, Reid Hatley and Michael Hastings, are playing in college.

Ferris, by replacing Hatley/Hastings with new talent, won the Greater Spokane League’s team title this year and had five golfers among the top 18 in scoring averages.

But champ Camp and Prugh, who tied for eighth place at district, were the only Saxons with top-10, state-qualifying finishes. Freshman Alex Prugh, tied for third among regular-season scoring leaders, placed 17th at district.

Still, any team with at least two golfers is eligible to win the state title.

“I think we still have a chance,” Camp said. “But you have to get two to the final day to have a chance.”

Mead placed slightly behind Ferris in the regular-season team race, but the Panthers qualified four to state. Junior David Fern, the district runner-up, and freshmen Eric Hastings, Matt Jorgensen and Tom McAndrews give Mead a shot at the state crown.

“This is certainly the youngest group we’ve taken,” said Mead coach Paul Peters. “It reminds me of days gone by, in the early ‘90s.”

Mead won the state title in 1991-93, with three players each time.

Other state participants are Central Valley’s Marty Nauert, Gonzaga Prep’s Dan Potter, Lewis and Clark’s Bill Witte and East Valley’s Jared Taylor. All are seniors except Nauert, a junior who shot a 2-under-par 68 during the final round at district.

There shouldn’t be much drama for the team race in the girls 4A tournament at Avalon Golf Course in Burlington. Ferris returns all five players from last year’s state-championship team.

Ferris junior Lani Elston tied for fourth place last year. Three of her teammates - Jaime Seefried, Kate Parks and Gina Hoal - are taking their last shots at state. Junior Megan Breer completes the team. All five placed in the top seven at district.

G-Prep and LC are eligible for the team race, with two competitors apiece. G-Prep’s Katie Brophy and Shelbi Cavalar, and LC’s Sarah Bassett and Whitney Saulsberry are all sophomores.

Rogers junior Lydia Keezer is making her third consecutive state appearance.

This sidebar appeared with the story: STATE GOLF At a glance

State golf tournaments, today and Tuesday in the Bellingham area:

4A

Sites: Sudden Valley Golf Course, Bellingham (boys); Avalon Golf Course, Burlington (girls).

Defending team champions: Ferris boys and girls

Highlights: All five girls who helped Ferris to the title are back, led by junior Lani Elston, the three-time district champion. Lewis and Clark’s Sarah Bassett and Gonzaga Prep’s Katie Brophy are top challengers… . Corey Prugh of Ferris is back to defend his boys title. He and district champ Ryan Camp are the only Saxons. Junior David Fern leads a four-person contingent from Mead; the other three are freshmen. G-Prep’s Dan Potter tied for second last year.

3A

Sites: Bellingham Golf and Country Club (boys); Lake Padden Golf Course, Bellingham (girls)

Defending team champions: Capital boys, Monroe girls

Highlights: Colville senior Jason Cox had top-five finishes the last two years at the 2A level. Cheney senior Peter Sisich tied for 20th last year… . Seniors Erica Leslie of Cheney and Amy Wieber of West Valley had top-10 girls finishes in ‘99. Ashley Martin won last week’s regional and led Clarkston to the team title.

2A

Sites: Loomis Trail Golf Course, Blaine (boys); Semi-Ah-Moo Country Club, Blaine (girls)

Defending team champions: Cascade (Leavenworth) boys, Pullman girls

Highlights: Pullman aims for a third consecutive title, led by district champ Kellie Kinzer, a top-five finisher the last two years. Four other Greyhounds qualified. Chewelah’s Katie Meyer tied for second at district… . Pullman’s boys qualified three to state, one more than Chewelah.

1A

Sites: Homestead Golf and Country Club, Lynden (boys); Shuksan Golf Course, Bellingham (girls, combined with Class B)

Defending team champions: Bellevue Christian boys, King’s girls

Highlights: St. John-Endicott qualified five girls, one more than Sprague-Harrington. Senior Emily Teel placed ninth last year to help S-H to fourth place, tops for B schools. Almira/Coulee-Hartline junior Jackie Evans won district by nine strokes… . Freeman sends five golfers, two more than Kettle Falls, last year’s boys state runner-up. Jared Hall of Colfax tied for eighth last year.

B

Site: North Bellingham Golf Course

Defending team champion: Tekoa-Oakesdale boys

Highlights: The field includes ‘99 champ Chris Barker, a Ritzville senior, and ‘98 champ Colin Floyd, a Sprague-Harrington junior. District belonged to Davenport’s Rob Anderson, a winner by five strokes. T-O is two-time champ, but had just one golfer in the top 10 at district, while Northwest Christian had three.