GSL has subpar tourney

BELLINGHAM – Lewis and Clark’s hopes of bringing home another state title came tumbling down Tuesday at the State 4A championship at Avalon Golf Links.

LC, which won football and girls basketball titles this season, had hopes of perhaps adding boys golf to that list. But for Wednesday’s final round, LC was limited to one golfer, sophomore Justin Haase.

Final-round tee times were delayed 30 minutes by rain, which looked like it would hamper some of the efforts of the competitors as it had the day before.

But as the rain ceased and the players later trickled in, the Greater Spokane League’s four remaining golfers finished no higher than a tie for 15th.

The GSL’s highest-ranking competitor was University junior Hank Frame, who scored an 8-over-par 152.

Frame said he played about the same as he did the first day of competition, but didn’t do as well as he hoped he would.

“I struggled a little bit with my putter,” Frame said. “That cost me quite a few strokes. That was the main problem.”

LC’s Haase said the rain in the morning was a detriment to his playing.

“I wish I could have played more consistent,” said Haase.

Haase said he birdied the 18th hole in the first day’s tournament, which is what got him into the final round.

Haase finished the tournament in 33rd, with a 13-over-par 157.

Ferris sophomore Garrett Howard, who finished tied for 20th with a 10-over 154, said he was anticipating the rain, but the game still didn’t go quite how he planned.

“It was rough. It didn’t exactly go the way I wanted,” Howard said. “It was really bad to start, but I finished pretty well on the back nine.”

Howard’s father was acting as coach during the tournament because his season-long coach was out for surgery. Coach Howard said he was happy with his son’s performance.

“He turned it around really well today,” the elder Howard said. “He was 6-over on the first seven holes and then he was even-par on the next 11 holes.”

The younger Howard said he was excited to have made the cut in the first round Tuesday, being one of only four GSL league players to do so.

“I didn’t have too good of a season in Spokane, so to come out on top (here) was pretty good,” Howard said.

The other GSL member in the second day of the tournament was Central Valley’s Sean Mitchell, who tied Howard at 10-over 154.

The winner of the individual title and the team title was Kamiak High School. Medalist Reid Martin scored a 2-under 142 and helped Kamiak defend its team title.

“I strategized throughout the course,” Martin said. “I took shots pretty well. Nothing was outstanding, but solid.”

Martin said he wasn’t put off by the weather since he has been playing in the area for 10 years, but the competition was still rough.

“My competitors that I was playing with made me battle and gave me some push,” Martin said. “They made me think about the shots I was going to hit. It was competitive.”