State golf: LC’s Sierra Kersten two shots back after 1st round of girls 4A

Bellarmine Prep’s Olivia Benzin and Lewis and Clark’s Sierra Kersten have spent a lot of time at or near the top of leaderboards in their prep golf careers.

The two seniors demonstrated why Wednesday as Benzin closed with three straight birdies for a 6-under-par 68, two strokes in front of Kersten after the first day of the State 4A tournament at Indian Canyon. Eastlake’s Ashley Fitzgibbons (72) was the only other player under par.

Kersten opened with a bogey on the par-5 first hole, but rebounded with birdies on 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 to make the turn in 4-under par.

“My shots were pretty good but it was mainly my putting,” Kersten said. “I was sinking a lot of mid-range putts.”

Benzin birdied the first three holes and also No. 6 but she dropped a stroke behind Kersten with a bogey at 8. Kersten birdied No. 10, giving her six birdies in a nine-hole stretch and a two-shot lead. Benzin rallied late, lipping out an eagle putt on the par-5 16th and draining short birdie putts at 17 and 18.

Benzin picked up four shots in the last three holes. Kersten 3-putted for par on 16 and an errant drive led to a bogey on 17. She narrowly missed a slick, downhill 6-footer for birdie on 18.

“I kind of faltered at the end. Currently my miss, especially with driver, is low left, a terrible looking shot,” Kersten said. “Before those (last few holes), I was definitely pleased with the way I was striking the ball.”

The two battled for the state title two years ago when Kersten won in a playoff. Kersten, a Stanford commit, was second and Benzin placed fifth last year.

“I try not to think about it (leading the tournament),” said Benzin, who has signed with Oregon State. “I’ll just try to play as well as I can and whatever happens happens.”

The biggest difference was the par 5s. Benzin was 4-under on six par 5s; Kersten was 1-under.

Bellarmine Prep, aiming for its sixth straight girls’ title, has three players in the top eight. Gonzaga Prep’s Kelly Hooper (79) is in 11th place.

In the boys tournament at Qualchan, Mead senior Blake Ellingsen fired a 2-under 70, two shots behind Skyline’s Chris Mogg. Ferris senior Tanner Comes and Gonzaga Prep freshman Jake Plaster had 71s and they’re tied for 12th on a crowded leaderboard.

Ellingsen was 2-over through five holes but rallied with seven birdies over the final 13 holes.

“I hit the driver unreal, hit all my clubs really well,” Ellingsen said. “The only thing that got me was four 3-putts.”

Comes hit just four fairways but put up a solid score thanks to hot putting. He had a rollercoaster last seven holes, going bogey, par, birdie, birdie, double bogey, birdie, birdie.

3A

Mt. Spokane’s Sam Stiles shot a 77 and is tied for 18th at Canyon Lakes in Kennewick. Teammate Ross Morrison (81) also made the cut.

The Wildcat girls’ Megan Billeter and Cailin Spencer both shot 85s for a share of 10th at Horn Rapids in Richland.

2A

Ephrata’s Kenedee Peters fired a 71 for a six-stroke lead at MeadowWood. Clarkston’s Grace Frazier (78) is third and Pullman’s Nicole Welter (80) is fifth.

Boys’ leader Aaron Whalen of Ephrata carded a sizzling 66 at Liberty Lake. East Valley’s Ryan Brown shot a 76.

1A

Freeman sophomore Ryan Maine took a one-shot lead with a 2-under 70 at Sun Willows in Pasco. Maine hit 16 greens in regulation and didn’t have a bogey.

Elma’s Lauryn Keating (76) leads the girls’ tournament.

1B/2B

Colfax’s Hunter Weitze shot a 73 at Columbia Point in Richland, one shot behind Ilwaco’s Kenneth Sheldon. Davenport’s Palmer Guhlke is fourth after a 74 and St. George’s Sawyer Spackman is fifth following a 77.

Wilbur-Creston’s Alicia Johnson is third after shooting 88, 11 behind first-round leader Emily Baumgart of DeSales.