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Published 1:30 am Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Spring sports preview — SHS boys golf

2017 finish: 9-0 (Olympic League champions); four players to state; ninth place at state 2A tournament

Head coach: Bill Shea (10th year)

Returning players: Blake Wiker (jr.), Paul Jacobsen (so.), Andrew Vanderberg (so.), Josiah Carter (sr.), Jarrett Allen (sr.), Liam Payne (jr.)

Newcomers: Michael Jensen (fr.), Joe Grasser (fr.), Jackson Lindorfer (fr.), Garrett Hoesel (fr.), Truman Nestor (fr.)

Key league competition: Olympic, Kingston, Port Townsend

Spring sports preview — SHS girls golf

2017 finish: 8-1 (second in Olympic League); three players to state; fifth place to state 2A tournament

Head coach: Garrett Smithson (2007-2014)

Returning players: Sarah Shea (sr.), Samantha Smith (sr.), Angela Carrillo-Burge (sr.), Madison Uranga (jr.), Yana Hoesel (jr.)

Newcomers: Jessica German (fr.), JoNell Hill (fr.), Minzsie Koch (jr.)

Key league competition: Olympic, North Kitsap, Klahowya

The domination on the links by Sequim’s golfing squads the past several years is no accident, the way Sequim coach Bill Shea sees it.

“I think it’s a testament to the junior programs,” says Shea, head golf pro at The Cedars at Dungeness. Along with his own junior program, Shea gives kudos to Tyler Sweet at Sunland Golf & Country Club and Chad Wagner at Peninsula Golf Club for bringing up solid young players before they hit the prep level.

“When you have strong feeder program, when they get to the high school, you get a strong team,” Shea said.

It’s perhaps an understatement for this year’s Wolves squad, who sees four state 2A tourney players back in the fold. That includes Olympic League MVP Blake Wiker and All-Olympic League first team players Paul Jacobsen, Andrew Vanderberg and Josiah Carter.

Wiker and Vanderberg placed 26th at state last year, Jacobsen was 37th and Carter tied for 58th as the Wolves took ninth as a team.

“I think we can get at least five and maybe all six players to state this year, Shea says. “Hopefully (we’ll) get four to make the cut so we can have a good team presence there.”

With plenty of experience and a solid crop of freshmen who have already seen some varsity playing time this year, Shea likes his chances for a third-consecutive undefeated league mark for Sequim’s boys.

“I think we have more depth than anybody (in league),” Shea says.

With so much talent on the squad, Shea says he’s working with his players less on their form and more on the finer points of their games.

“It’s more about course management, how you handle pressure, preparation … things like that,” he says.

Sequim’s girls squad loses four-time league MVP Alex McMenamin but sees the return of stalwart Sarah Shea, a senior who was an all-Olympic League first team selection and placed 22nd at last year’s state tourney — and 15th as a sophomore in 2016 — along with Samantha Smith an all Olympic-League second team player who tied for 44th at state in 2017.

Sequim placed fifth at last year’s state meet.

Also back is coach Garrett Smithson, who coached Sequim’s girls from 2007-2014.

Wolves pounce on links

Sequim’s golfing squads are unchallenged after two matches apiece, earning a sweep of North Mason at home on March 15.

On the girls’ side, Sarah Shea’s nine-hole round of 38 edged teammate Samantha Smith by four shots for medalist honors as Sequim won, 18-233 (low score wins). Smith’s 42 was a personal best. Sequim’s Angela Carrillo-Burge came in at 47 and Maddie Uranga at 55.

North Mason’s top player was Harmony Meeker, who shot a 57.

“The girls had an amazing day of weather and golf … the course conditions were next to flawless,” Sequim coach Garrett Smithson said.

On the boys’ side, Blake Wiker and Paul Jacobsen tied for medalist honors with rounds of 35 as Sequim bested the Bulldogs, 153-176.

Third place was also a tie, with Sequim’s Josiah Carter North Mason’s Eric Jones in at 39. Sequim freshman Garrett Hoesel made his prep debut with a round of 50.

Looking ahead

Sequim’s squads were scheduled to play at North Mason on March 20.

The Wolves are at North Kitsap on March 21, their final match before spring break. Sequim hosts Olympic and Klahowya in a double-dual Olympic League match on April 10.