Kersten, Kim keep up great competition

Lewis and Clark’s Sierra Kersten and Mead’s Lydia Kim went back-and-forth during the Greater Spokane League golf season and nothing changed at the district tournament.

Kersten built a five-stroke lead over Kim after shooting 70 at Downriver. Kim made a spirited run Thursday at MeadowWood, playing the front side in 1-under and cutting Kersten’s lead to one shot on the back nine.

“She did make me work,” said Kersten, who played the final seven holes 1 under to pull away for a four-shot win. “She’s been playing well all year. She’s beaten me in a couple of GSL tournaments. It’s been fun.”

The competition should sharpen both at the 4A state tournament Wednesday and Thursday at Indian Canyon.

“I love playing with her,” said Kim, who has signed with St. John’s. “We’re both pretty competitive. She’s a great player and also a really good friend. She’s one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet, very humble.”

Kim has made noticeable improvement this season. She averaged 75.5 in GSL play, trailing only Stanford-commit Kersten’s 74.0.

“It’s been consistent,” Kim said. “I keep telling myself everything happens for a reason. That’s been keeping me calm and steady. You can’t go back and get mad about your last shot because you can’t do anything about it.”

Kim demonstrated that at Downriver after a four-putt on a dicey pin location on No. 15. She made a bounce-back birdie on No. 16.

“Last year I would have worried about the last shot,” Kim said. “This year I told myself, ‘Play your best and whatever happens happens.’ It’s just golf. You can’t really explain it.”

Home-course advantage

Qualchan, site of the boys 4A state tournament, also serves as Ferris’ home course. District 8 champion and Saxons senior Tanner Comes has played the course countless times and he’s still learning Qualchan’s nuances.

“It’s going to be tricky for guys coming over,” he said. “It’s not a course you play once and figure it out. I’ve played it a lot and there are still shots I’m like, ‘What is this?’

“I’m starting to figure out when you need to be aggressive and when you need to get your par and get out. There’s a couple holes you need to play smart and you can’t be too aggressive.”

Strong week for Maine

Freeman sophomore Ryan Maine placed 11th in the Golfweek West Coast Junior Invite last weekend at Mesa (Arizona) Country Club.

Maine shot rounds of 74 and 72 to finish at 2-over 146 in a tournament loaded with juniors and seniors. Players were invited based on national ranking. Bradley Reeves, of Woodbridge, California, finished at 8 under and won the event in a playoff.

Back home, Maine won the District 7 1A tournament with a two-round total of 145 at Deer Park. Maine advances to state next week at Sun Willows in Pasco. He placed 14th last year at state.

All in the family

Three years ago Sierra Kersten was a freshman playing with senior sister Sydney, now a junior at Princeton. In Thursday’s round at MeadowWood, Sierra’s group included freshman sister Skylar. They’ve been paired together several times this season.

The sisters fist-bumped after Sierra drained a par putt on No. 5 and Skylar stuck her tee shot within 10 feet on the 138-yard 8th.

“She’s very positive,” Sierra said. “It’s fun to play with her and she played really well. I’m really excited we have three going to state.”

Skylar finished fourth after rounds of 82 and 83. Junior Jessica McCourt placed sixth with scores of 90 and 85.