Orcas’ links duos, softball star prep for state competition

Sequim golfers Amanda L. Forbes and Scott Aughtry set their sights on another gold as they prepare for the Special Olympics’ Summer Sports Classic, held in Everett from Aug. 14-16.

It didn’t take long for this pair to hit their stride.

Sequim golfers Amanda L. Forbes and Scott Aughtry set their sights on another gold as they prepare for the Special Olympics’ Summer Sports Classic, held in Everett from Aug. 14-16.

The duo earned a spot at state after earning gold at a regional tournament in Tacoma recently. There they’ll be joined by fellow Sequim athletes Michael Rief and dad Tom, who also earned gold at a regional golf tourney, along with softball player Alix Rosenbalm.

In his first year participating in any sport, Rosenbalm, 9, won a gold medal at the regional softball tournament in the individual skills event where he competed in throwing, catching, batting and running; he’ll compete again at the Summer Sports Classic at Everett’s Kasch Field Baseball Complex.

Aughtry is one of the top legally blind golfers in the country and has a world-long drive title on his resume. But he isn’t just a big hitter. Aughtry, the 2014 Disability Ryder Cup Captain and Paralong Drive World Blind Division champion, also is a two-time blind national stroke play champion and blind national matchplay champion.

“I’ve got the full game,” Aughtry said.

Forbes, a team member from Clallam County Orcas, the local Special Olympics team, has golfed for four of the past five years and has earned state gold previously in individual skills golf competitions. The pair met in June and hit it off at regionals. Now they have a chance to score another title at state and possibly earn a world games berth as they compete at Everett’s Walter Hall Golf Course.

“I have to really be focusing; everybody’s trying to get gold,” Forbes said.

“We’ve got a good shot at state,” Aughtry said.

Their coaches are Bill Shea and Garrett Smithson.

For more information, see sowa.org.