PREP GOLF 5 TO WATCH

Published 11:27 pm Friday, March 26, 2010

Max McKinley

Shorewood senior

Cassie McKinley

Shorewood sophomore

This brother/sister duo represents not only the top golfers at Shorewood, but also potentially the best boy and girl golfers in the league (in sister Cassie’s case probably not this year but surely before she is done as a Thunderbird). Max is a scratch golfer who will attend the University of Arizona in the fall and walk on to the golf team. He had offers from smaller schools but Max’s sites are set high, much like his sites for Shorewood this year. “I don’t have a year next year in high school golf so I might as well not go out saying I might as well get second place. I’m going to try to win everything,” the elder McKinley said. Cassie (an 11 handicap) made great progress in the off-season and raised eyebrows when she shot a 1-under-par round at Walter Hall in the season-opening Jamboree. Many girls get intimidated when they tee off with the boys in practice but for Cassie it’s no big deal. “It’s really neat to see the two of them out on the golf course they are really pushing each other to be better,” Shorewood girls coach Shannon Nyblod said.

Tyler Hella

Snohomish junior

Often the defending state champions are expected to make a return run to the state tournament, but in the case of Snohomish boys golf team, which graduated six seniors, no one knows. If they are to make a run, the Panthers will be led by Hella, the lone upperclassmen on the squad. Coach Joe Mutcheson says a whole host of sophomores will be in contention for the remaining spots.

Rachel Choi

Kamiak senior

Sometimes small typos make a big difference. In the guide that lists the top high school girls golfers in the country there was a mistake: Rachel Choi was listed as the class of 2011 rather than 2010. By the time some college coaches from top schools started talking to her it was too late. Choi has committed to the University of Idaho where she will take the next step in pursuing a professional golf career. But if that dream doesn’t hold Choi will study Professional Golf Management at one of the nation’s 18 such schools, potentially giving her a future in golf regardless of whether she makes the LPGA tour. Choi qualified for state in each of her three years as a Knight but a pulled back muscle kept her from the type of finish that she hoped for in 2009 (she finished 15th). They typo, the injury, none of it bothers Choi, who wants a top-five finish at the state tournament this year. “I don’t have to prove it to anyone but myself,” Choi said. The scary thing for the rest of the leagues is she’s not even the best golfer on her team. Seo Hee Moon was first, second and second the past three years at state.

Mark Strickland

Kamiak senior

What does Mark Strickland spend most of his practice time on? The same thing the average golfer should: shots from 150 yards and in where he has deadly accuracy. Strickland and his superb wedge game will be playing for Western Washington University — the third ranked Division II program in the nation — next year. But before he moves on to college, he has a state championship to win. Competitors that haven’t seen him since 2009 should be worried. Strickland also wrestles for Kamiak and has grown in strength and weight every year. “I think it gives me more distance,” Strickland said. He’s added 25 pounds over the year and he estimates that his drives travel 20 yards further and iron shots are 10 yards longer. Unlike many No. 1 golfers with a top-five chance at state, Strickland has been kept humble by his teammates over the years including those on Kamiak’s 2007 and 2008 state championship teams. “There’s always been someone to chase after and I think that’s really helped me.” Strickland said.

Brandon Caldwell

Marysville-Pilchuck senior

The Wesco North appears to be much more wide open and unpredictable than the South this year. Marysville-Pilchuck has as good a chance as any to make noise at the district tournament. If the Tomahawks go far this year it will be due in great part to the play of Brandon Caldwell. The fourth-year varsity player is M-P’s captain this year. He has gone head-to-head with the best golfers in the area in the past and is not afraid to compete according to Tommie’s coach Mike Otness. Caldwell has a power game to go with good short game skills.

Jon Saperstein, Herald Writer