Prep golf notebook: Freeman’s Maine on roll entering state tournament

Freeman boys golf coach Trevor Jensen has only been on the job two years, long enough to witness considerable growth in Ryan Maine’s game.

And that’s not always easy to do when you’re already one of the top juniors in the region.

“He worked harder on his game between last season and this year,” Jensen said. “He’s bigger, working out, putting extra effort in. He just got better, a lot better.”

It shows in Maine’s scores. He’s fired two 65s, one in the 1A District 7 tournament earlier this week at Hangman Valley and another at Deer Park. There was a 69 at StoneRidge, 70 at Sun Dance, 73s at Dominion Meadows and Fairways and a 76 at Manito.

Maine also won the WJGA’s Eastern Open, shooting 6-under 138 over 36 holes at Sun Willows in Pasco.

“Just working on little parts of my game,” said Maine, who was 9-under through 16 at Hangman Valley. “I’m able to bounce back after a bad hole, a bad shot. I’ve worked with (former Manito pro) Steve Prugh a lot on that. Mentally, I had a little block last year and I feel like I’m getting better.”

Golf roots run deep in the Maine family. Ryan’s older brother, Dylan, played the PGA Canada Tour last summer and still holds an edge in their weekly matches. Older sister, Alyssa, recently finished her senior year at Whitman College.

“They’ve taught me a lot,” Maine said. “I started playing in tournaments when I was 8, like both my siblings.”

Maine has played in two state tournaments, finishing 14th as a freshman and runner-up last year. Maine and Cle Elum-Roslyn’s Nick Baker shot matching 140s at Sun Willows. Baker won the playoff on the third hole.

Maine, who won the district tournament by 25 shots, hopes to enjoy a hometown advantage with state taking place at Liberty Lake, where he shot a 73 recently.

“My first two (state) experiences have given me a lot of confidence,” he said. “I really feel confident I have the game I need to win.”

Supporting Coach Northcutt

The Mt. Spokane girls wore pink and white bows in the final round of the 3A District 8 tournament at Wandermere on Wednesday.

Coach Eleen Northcutt wasn’t with her team but her players wanted to demonstrate she was in their thoughts and prayers.

“She is honestly the heart of the team,” junior Megan Billeter said.

Northcutt is battling a recurrence of cancer and wasn’t able to attend the tournament. The popular and successful coach has guided the Wildcats to three Greater Spokane League titles in the last four years. Her 2014 team became the first program in school history to win a state championship.

“She’s really fighting, fighting the way everyone who knows Eleen knows she’s going to fight,” said Ryan Nelson, who is filling in for Northcutt. “The season is kind of dedicated from the players to her.”

Stating their case

GSL individuals and teams should be in the hunt for state hardware.

The Central Valley boys have five qualifiers in 4A, which will tee off at Meadow Springs in Richland. Junior Cole Howard’s grandparents live on the course.

“Cole knows the course and he says we’re going to have fun,” coach Steve Rasmussen said. “Some fun risk-reward type holes, and he said the greens are going to be faster than anything we’ve played.”

Gonzaga prep senior Kelly Hooper is making her fourth trip to the 4A girls tournament.

“You have to keep your ball in play, hit greens and make putts,” said Hooper, who has three top 10 state finishes. “Just play simple golf.”

Mt. Spokane has the numbers (five girls, four boys) to compete for 3A titles. The girls play at Indian Canyon while the boys are at Qualchan.

“We haven’t had that many since my freshman year when we won our state championship so I’m hoping to do it again,” Billeter said.

Seniors Sam Stiles and Ross Morrison lead the Mt. Spokane boys.

“We played Qualchan Monday and we played well,” coach Greg Schultz said. “It’s nice to have a little homefield advantage after going to Vancouver all those years.”