Crusaders dominate final round
Northwest Christian’s boys are setting up for something of a dynasty in future years.
The Crusaders girls will be lucky to have a team next year.
Regardless, you can crown them both champions this year.
NWC, led by the second- and third-place finishes of sophomore John Graham and freshman Jared Descoteaux, wracked up 45 team points to win its second consecutive state team title Wednesday at the State B boys tournament at Liberty Lake Golf Course.
Their compatriot girls, led by a first-place finish from senior Lianne Matkin and a third-place finish from senior Krystal Pitkonen, scored 50 points to win their second consecutive state title at the State 1A/B tournament at Esmeralda Golf Course.
“My grandmother could coach these kids,” NWC coach Joe Whelham said. “I don’t have to say much to them. … I don’t know if this has ever been done before. This is a dream come true.”
Their place in history isn’t lost on the students either, particularly considering the school likely won’t have enough girls to form a full team next year.
“We’re making school history,” said Pitkonen, who added it will be nice to have a trophy to add to the school’s State B boys basketball title. “It will be nice having another sport noticed. This is something we’ll remember.”
The Crusaders boys had another strong day, but not as strong as Masters Touch freshman Craig Crawford.
In a leaderboard that could be similar for the next three years, Crawford shot a 4-over-par 74, finishing with a 149 to beat playing partner Graham by two strokes.
Graham, who started the day tied with Crawford and two others after shooting a first-day 75, shot a 76 and finished with a 151.
Descoteaux, a freshman who also shot a 75 Tuesday, was a group ahead of Crawford and Graham and finished third at 155 after shooting a 10-over 80.
Crawford was remarkably consistent, giving himself in opportunities to birdie on nearly every hole.
The one time he needed to make a shot, he did.
After Graham cut two strokes off Crawford’s lead on the ninth and 10th holes, Crawford hit his tee shot on the par-3 11th to the right of the green. He chipped across the green and in for a birdie that killed Graham’s momentum and gave Crawford a big mental boost.
“It really pumped me up,” Crawford said. “It really gave me a lift when I went up and drove the next ball into the fairway.”
From there, Crawford was as consistent as the sunrise, and any opportunities Graham had he couldn’t cash in, leaving close to a half-dozen putts just short of the cup.
“I had mental lapses,” Graham said. “I wasn’t concentrating on the shot. I was playing him and not concentrating on what shot I had to make.”
On the girls’ side, Matkin, who recovered from a quadruple-bogey 8 Tuesday to shoot a 3-over 75, once again tapped into her mental strength.
She survived a double bogey on holes 17 and 18, as well as a flubbed drive on the first playoff hole, to beat Highland’s Minhee Park on the second playoff hole and win the State 1A/B tournament at Esmeralda.
Matkin, who parred the two playoff holes, finished with a second straight 75 for a 6-over 150. Pitkonen finished one stroke behind Matkin and Park at 7-over 151.
After the two closing double-bogeys, Matkin, who nearly had a hole-in-one on the 12th hole, got a little help on the way to the playoff holes.
“I duffed that tee shot and almost freaked out,” Matkin said. “I was confident until the second shot on the 18th, when my mental game broke down. … But on the way to the playoff, my dad was there and told me not to get negative in the playoff.”
•Life Christian’s Andrew Putnam, who held a four-shot lead after an opening-round 68, shot a 2-over 72 and finished with a 140 to win the State 1A tournament at Liberty Lake.
Kettle Falls’ Jason Azzarito, who shot a first-round 74, carded a 70 – the best round of the day – and took home second after finishing with a 144.
The 1-2 finish was the inverse of the 2005 tournament, when Azzarito beat Putnam in a playoff.
Overlake, with 45 points, eked out the team title, beating Royal by one-half point.