Everett, Wash.
Published: Friday, May 16, 2008

GIRLS GOLF: Kamiak's Moon cruises to title

By Jesse Geleynse
Herald Writer

 OAK HARBOR -- Kamiak's Seo Hee Moon shot 1-under 71 during Tuesday's 4A District 1 golf tournament's opening round, leaving the question of who would be crowned 2008 individual champion almost a foregone conclusion as the tournament wrapped up Thursday at Gallery Golf Course on Whidbey Island.

With Tuesday's performance, Moon, the 2007 4A state champion, entered Thursday eight strokes ahead of second-place Emily Guthrie of Snohomish and 12 strokes ahead of Knight teammate Rachel Choi.

All Moon had to do was maintain, and that she did, shooting 6-over 78 to finish with a two-day total of 5-over 149 to win the district championship by 11 strokes over Choi.

"It's not that big of a deal for me -- it's just districts," the sophomore said, before adding that the real pressure comes next week as she looks to repeat her state championship of a year ago. "I can definitely sense it, but it's not that bad. I think I can handle it."

With the two Knights running away with the individual scores, the real question was which team would take the team title.

Host Oak Harbor proved victorious with 135.5 points, edging second-place Snohomish (123.5) and 2007 4A state champion Kamiak (115.5).

"It's very impressive," said Oak Harbor coach Andy Wesley. "The (girls) came through – they worked really hard. They've been working hard all season. This is one of their goals that they set at the beginning of the year and they achieved it."

Brittany Loveng shot 83 to finish with a two-day total of 180 to finish fourth and lead the Wildcats.

"I am so excited right now – I can't believe it," said the senior, just moments after holding the trophy with her teammates for a photo. "We've all wanted this since our freshman year and this year we thought we had a chance and I'm just so excited right now that we got it."

Loveng dropped 14 strokes off her round from Tuesday which moved her from a tie for ninth place into the top five.

"I'm very happy with how I shot today," she said. "It could have been better, it can always be better, but it was definitely something I'm proud of."

Loveng will be joined by senior teammates Andria Sutter (sixth place) and Brittany Rickman (13th) at the state tournament.

"We've reached the pinnacle -- we're just going to ride the wave in (to the state tournament)," Wesley said.

Guthrie led Snohomish with a third-place finish. The junior shot 84 for a tournament total of 163.

"I'm pretty excited -- just to be in the top three is a good achievement for me," said Guthrie, who will be joined by teammate Chelsea Adams (10th place) at state. "I'm not disappointed. Seo is just amazing and to be closer is exciting too."

Rounding out the top five was Shannon Quinn of Shorewood, who shot 87 on Thursday to finish with 180 overall.

Edmonds-Woodway recorded 111 points and will send Ally Johnson (eighth place) and Sarah Vlasic (11th) to state.

Jackson's Kelsey Fitzpatrick (ninth place), Lake Stevens' Kaitlin Evans (12th) and Cascade's Renee Brush (14th) also will represent the Wesco at the state tournament, which begins May 20 at Sudden Valley Golf Course in Bellingham.

At Gallery Golf Course

36 holes played, par

Team scoring, Stableford

Individual scoring, stroke play

Team scores: Oak Harbor 135.5, Snohomish 123.5, Kamiak 115.5, Edmonds-Woodway 111, Marysville 90, Lake Stevens 63, Monroe 48.5, Jackson 47, Shorewood 38.5, Stanwood 34, Cascade 32.5.

Oak Harbor: Loveng 37, Sutter 35, Rickman 28.5, Earnhart 17.5, Cone 14, Hamming 3.5.

Snohomish: Guthrie 40, Adams 31, Hoover 23, Uderitz 20.5, Park 9.

Kamiak: Moon 50, Choi 45, Levin 11.5, McCormick 9.

Edmonds-Woodway: Johnson 33, Vlasic 30, Humann 20.5, Lauber 16, Ramos 11.5.

Marysville-Pilchuck: Beauchamp 26.5, Ashley 24, Rott 17.5, Saunders 13, Brown 9.

Lake Stevens: Evans 28.5, Lobaugh 25, Tews 6, Palmer 3.5.

Monroe: Felske 20.5, Walker 20.5, Bowery 6, Cooper 1.5.

Jackson: Fitzpatrick 32, Miller 15.

Shorewood: Quinn 37, Lagergren 1.5.

Stanwood: Afualo 34.

Cascade: Brush 26.5, Armintrout 6.

Top individual scores: Moon (K) 149, Choi (K) 160, Guthrie (Sn) 163, Loveng (OH) 180, Quinn (SW) 180, Sutter (OH) 183, Afualo (St) 195, Johnson (E-W) 196, Fitzpatrick (J) 197, Adams (Sn) 199, Vlasic (E-W) 201, Evans (LS) 205, Rickman (OH) 205, Brush (C) 207, Beauchamp (M-P) 207, Lobaugh (C) 208.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA