NWPrepsNow: GSL teams figure to be in mix for state golf titles

Mt. Spokane, led by four seniors, made history last year by capturing the girls 3A state golf championship, the first state title in any sport for the now 18-year-old school.

Several of the names have changed but the young Wildcats are back chasing more history Wednesday-Thursday at Horn Rapids in Richland.

State golf often becomes a numbers game and Mt. Spokane is in good shape with four players advancing from the District 8 tournament. Mercer Island has six qualifiers, Enumclaw five.

Sophomore medalist Megan Billeter is in the first tee time (7:30 a.m. Wednesday), which is reserved for the three players with the lowest district scores. Billeter took eighth last year.

“She’s maturing,” said coach Eleen Northcutt, whose team will play a practice round at Horn Rapids today. “Being a freshman last year she was behind those seniors and now she’s No. 1 on the team. She’s really showing what she’s capable of doing.”

Junior Cailin Spencer, second at districts, was 27th at state a year ago. Sophomores Kailyn Jones and Brooke Fraser complete Mt. Spokane’s state lineup. The top 40 and ties advance to Thursday’s final round.

“It’s a possibility if we can get all four into the second round,” Northcutt said. “The enthusiasm of this group is so high. They enjoy being around each other.”

The Mt. Spokane boys, led by district champion Sam Stiles and third-place Ross Morrison, are pursuing their fifth straight top-five finish.

“It’s been a really rewarding year after graduating those four seniors from last year,” coach Greg Schultz said.

Stiles tied for 14th last year as a sophomore.

“I shot 73 at Canyon Lakes as a sophomore and was second in a tournament,” he said. “I’ve played there a couple times this year and I played well so I’m excited about it.”

4A

Lewis and Clark senior Sierra Kersten, 2013 state champ and runner-up last year, and Mead’s Lydia Kim figure to be in the mix. District champ Kersten tees off at 7:30 a.m., runner-up Kim at 7:39.

“I love Indian Canyon,” Kersten said. “It’s a challenging course. I just like it.”

On the boys’ side, district champ Tanner Comes of Ferris is hoping to improve on past state finishes of 16th and eighth. He’ll be playing at Qualchan, the Saxons’ home course.

“I just want to put myself in contention,” Comes said. “My putting feels really good and I like Qualchan’s greens. They’re really pure.”

Mead senior Blake Ellingsen, the Greater Spokane League Player of the Year, should be in contention.

2A

Clarkston’s Grace Frazier and Cody Culletto won individual district titles. Frazier placed 12th at state last year.

1A

District champion Ryan Maine of Freeman earned a spot in the 7:30 a.m. tee time with a two-round 145 at Deer Park.

1B/2B

Top area contenders include Wilbur-Creston’s Alicia Johnson, who shot a two-round total of 155 to win the district girls’ title by 21 shots, and Colfax’s Hunter Weitze (150) and Davenport’s Palmer Guhlke (151), the top two boys finishers.

St. George’s is the defending girls’ and boys’ champion.