Right at home on their home course, a trio of Wolves are headed to the state 2A tournament — and they may have more company.
Blake Wiker, Paul Jacobsen and Ben Sweet took three of the top four spots at the Olympic League golf championship at The Cedars at Dungeness on April 30, earning automatic bids to the state tournament held later this month.
Wiker, a senior, and Jacobsen, a junior, each shot 3-over 75s on the par-72, and Wiker edged his teammate in a playoff for medalist honors.
“I think they were pretty happy with a pair of 75s,” Sequim boys coach Bill Shea said.
Sweet, a freshman, finished with an 8-over 80 to place fourth.
“He had a great season; he as our number three player all year; (he played) very steady and improved week in and week out,” She said.
Sweet’s round of 80 was his best for a full 18 holes, the Sequim coach said.
“He did that under a pretty big stage,” Shea noted.
With a round of 88, Sequim senior Liam Payne qualified for the West Central District tournament set for Wednesday, May 15, at Gold Mountain Golf Course in Bremerton; the top 15 boys advance to state.
“I think Liam’s got a very strong chance (to advance to state),” Shea said. “He should be able to make it to the next level.”
Teammates Dom Riccobene (101, 25th) and Joe Grasser (103, 29th) missed the district cutoff.
On the girls’ side, seniors Yana Hoesel and Brittany Gale are headed to districts on May 15 after earning qualifying scores.
Hoesel shot a 99 to tie for eighth place while Gale tied for 15th with a round of 105.
“I thought they both played OK,” Sequim girls coach Garrett Smithson said. “Brittany had a couple of bad holes but overall she had a good day.”
The top six girls from districts advance to the state 2A tourney, with nine players form the Olympic League and another nine from the South Puget Sound League competing.
“There’s certainly a good chance for them to move on,” Smithson said.
Sequim teammates Maddie Uranga (112, 19th), Jessica German (116, 21st), Delaney Nucci (117, 22nd) and JoNell Hill (125, 28th) did not make the district cutoff.
“It’s bad day (for them); it stings, but at the end of the day it’s a sport they’ll play for the rest of their lives and some of them will go on to play in college,” Smithson said.
Lake Makenzie of Port Townsend won Olympic League medalist honors with a 13-over round of 85.
The state 2A boys tournament is set for May 21-22 at Liberty Lake Golf Course in Spokane, while the 2A girls tourney is May 21-22 at Meadowwood Golf Course, also in Spokane.
Jacobsen makes cut at Egbers
Sequim’s Jacobsen was the lone Wolf among five competing to advance to the second day at the 38th-annual Bill Egbers Memorial Tournament at Skagit Valley Golf & Country Club in Burlington on May 3.
The event brings together the top prep golf teams in the state, and as Olympic League champions, the Wolves earned an automatic invitation.
Jacobsen was the lone Sequim golfer to advance to the afternoon, posting a morning round of 7-over-par 79 and followed up with an 84 in the afternoon (the cut line was 80).
Wiker shot an 82, Sweet had an 85, Payne added an 89 and Dom Riccobene carded a 95.
Sequim’s Paul Jacobsen watches a drive on the second hole at The Cedars at Dungeness. Jacobsen’s nine-hole round of 36 earned the junior medalist honors in a league win over North Kitsap on April 23, helping Sequim to a 9-0 league mark and fourth consecutive league title. Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell
Sequim’s Brittany Gale tees off from the first hole at The Cedars at Dungeness on April 23. Gale and teammate Yana Hoesel qualified for the West Central District tournament at the April 30 Olympic League tournament. Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell
