RICHLAND — Snohomish’s Ben Gardner and Ethan Casto are tied for 10th after firing first-round 75s at the 4A state golf tournament at Meadow Springs Country Club, but both have plenty of work to do if they plan on working their way up the leaderboard.
Eastlake’s Tommy McCoy leads the field after a two-under-par 70 in his first round.
“Both Ethan and Ben obviously scored well, but although they finished with the same score, they had completely different rounds,” Snohomish coach Joey Mutcheson said. “Ben was more consistent with his ball-striking, and Ethan’s putter worked well for him today. They just have to go out there tomorrow, be patient and try to do what they’ve practiced.”
Although Casto and Gardner, both seniors, are just five shots off the leader, there are nine players between them and the top spot, so a lot will have to go the Panthers’ way on Wednesday.
Casto has been in this pressure-cooker before, finishing the final day of last year’s tournament tied for the lead, only to lose in a three-hole playoff.
Gardner, who didn’t make the cut as a junior last season, is benefiting from his teammate’s experience.
“Ethan’s such a good teammate, and is sharing a lot of information with Ben to make him more comfortable,” Mutcheson said. “The more times you put yourself in a situation like that you become a little more comfortable.”
Snohomish will also face an uphill battle in search of its first team title since 2009.
Eastlake and Kentwood both have two players in the top 10, higher than Casto and Gardner.
“It’s a unique point system,” Mutcheson said. “In my experience, it’s just best to wait it out and see how it ends up.”
4A Girls
PASCO — Local players found tough sledding at Sun Willows on Tuesday, as Kamiak’s Jane Kim and Renee Kwak will be the only area golfers represented in Wednesday’s final round.
Kim placed 22nd with a first-round 79, and Kwak’s 83 was good enough for 39th place.
Jalayne Martinez of Pasco leads the field with a first-round 69.
3A Boys
SPOKANE — Stanwood’s Quinton Borseth carded a three-over par 75 on Tuesday to tie for 15th at The Creek at Qualchan.
Borseth trails leader Sam Warkentin of Bainbridge by six strokes heading into Wednesday’s final round of play.
Arlington’s Austin Faux (77) and Conner Stephens (78) also made the cut, as did Everett freshman Andrew Martin, who shot an 80 in his first round of state tournament play.
3A Girls
SPOKANE — Meadowdale’s Morgan Rood was the only local player to make the cut on Tuesday at Indian Canyon.
Rood’s round of 91 tied her for 30th, well behind co-leaders Abby Euyang of Lakeside and Therese Warner of Southridge, each of whom shot 76.
2A Boys
RICHLAND — Archbishop Murphy placed three players in the top 18 on Tuesday at Horn Rapids, led by Jack McClincy, whose first-round 75 has him just two shots behind first-place Luke Hall of Liberty.
McClincy (fourth place) and Matthew Pabisz (tied for 13th) and Steve Shih (tied for 15th) have the Wildcats positioned for a run at their first team title.
2A Girls
RICHLAND — Casey Spurr of Cedarcrest led a quartet of local players to make the cut after the first day of action at Columbia Point.
Spurr fired a first-round 90 to place 16th, 13 strokes behind Ephrata’s Kenedee Peters, who shot 77 to lead the field.
Shorecrest’s Jac Longstreth is tied for 26th with a 95.
Elizabeth Holmdahl of Shorecrest and Holland Seamons of Cedarcrest are each tied for 40th after shooting 99.
1A Boys
SPOKANE — JackRyan O’Neil of King’s is tied for ninth after the first round at Liberty Lake after carding a 77 on the par-66 course.
O’Neil trails Hoquiam’s John Sand by seven strokes entering Wednesday’s final round.
Sultan’s Tyler Aamold is in 13th place after a round of 78 on Tuesday, and Grayson Giboney of King’s is tied for 21st with an 82.
1A Girls
SPOKANE — Hannah Roh of King’s took a two-stroke lead over South Whidbey’s Kolby Heggenes and Highland’s Lucy Mitchum on Tuesday at Liberty Lake, and will look to cap her prep career with her first state title on Wednesday.
Roh, who finished fourth, fourth and third in her first three state tourney appearances, shot an 80 on the par-66 course.
“She positioned herself pretty well with her drives and approach shots, and placed the ball pretty well today,” King’s coach Simonette Sancho said. “She felt pretty confident after 18 today and is getting familiar with the course.”
King’s will also have Emily Burdett competing on Wednesday, and Sancho said if she improves her play on the back nine to shave some strokes off her first-round 94, the Knights could be in position for a second consecutive team title.
South Whidbey is in pole position for that crown after Tuesday after finishing second to King’s last year.
Heggenes’ 82 and Tarra Moore’s 83 give the Falcons two players in the top five.
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