State champion golfers from 1959 to reunite

Published 6:04 pm Tuesday, September 14, 2010

EVERETT — Nineteen fifty-nine was a memorable year in the world of golf.

Gary Player won the British Open, the first of nine major championships in a stellar career. Art Wall Jr. birdied five of the last six holes to overtake Cary Middlecoff and Arnold Palmer for a stirring one-stroke victory at The Masters. And a young Ohioan named Jack Nicklaus finished first at the U.S. Amateur, giving a hint of future greatness.

There was big news in Everett, too, as boyhood friends George Kauffman, Bob Borup and Bob Trosvig capped their senior year by helping Everett High School win a state golf championship.

The years pass, but the memories of that remarkable season remain strong. This week Kauffman, Borup and Trosvig will be on hand to help Everett’s Class of 1959 celebrate its 50th reunion, and also to relive the 50th anniversary of their state title. On Friday, the three will participate in the reunion’s golf tournament, playing together in an honorary group.

A half century ago, Everett High School already had “a tradition and a history of good golfers,” said Kauffman, who is 68 and lives in Seattle. “You wanted to be as good as the guys that were ahead of you. You wanted to carry on the legacy.”

The school’s golf team began back in the early 1930s, but there was no state championship tournament until 1956. Everett dominated in the early years, winning the inaugural event and then five more in succession. The Seagulls won 10 of the first 19 tournaments (they tied once) and were the runner-up three times.

“(Everett) just happened to have young players who were interested in golf, who played a lot of golf and who became good golfers,” said Borup, who is 68 and lives in Everett.

Kauffman, Borup and Trosvig were a big part of that long-ago dynasty. Everett was a three-year high school back then, and for all three years Kauffman and Borup were varsity players and members of the four-man state tourney teams. Trosvig was also a varsity player for three years and competed at state twice, just missing being in the top four as a sophomore.

A fourth member of the class, Jim Smith, was another of the team’s top players. He grew up in the city’s north end, as did Trosvig. Both attended Whittier Elementary School, while Kauffman and Borup were from the south end and went to the Immaculate Conception grade school.

All the boys began golfing as youngsters, and they were all accomplished players by the time they reached the high school.

“Most of us already had our golf games by then,” Borup said. “So we didn’t get a lot of instructions from (coach) Bill Gowen, but he got the matches and he took us to matches in his car.”

As much as they competed against players from other schools, their own battles were equally spirited.

Each day, Gowen listed his athletes from top to bottom, “and you wanted to be higher on the ladder,” Kauffman said. “So it was good, friendly competition, and it made us all better.”

“We were all striving to be No. 1,” said the 67-year-old Trosvig, who lives in Everett.

In 1959, a young sophomore named Joey Richer joined the golf team and was soon contending for a top spot. In fact, Richer played well enough to edge out Smith, a senior, for the final spot on the four-man state team.

“(Richer) was a natural player,” Kauffman said. “He had natural talent. As a sophomore, he played his way into being in the top four and he bumped Jimmy out of a spot for the state tournament.”

“And that was tough on Jim,” Trosvig said.

The state tournament was held at Everett Municipal Golf Course, known today as Legion Memorial Golf Course. Close to 30 teams showed up, including strong contenders from Shoreline and Clover Park high schools, but no one could match Everett.

Borup shot a 1-under-par 71 to take medalist honors, and Kauffman was a single stroke behind in second (he had a chance to tie Borup, but missed a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 18). Trosvig, meanwhile, tied for third with a 76 and Richer tied for sixth with a 77.

After high school, Kauffman, Borup and Trosvig all played college golf. Kauffman then began a career as an investment manager and today is a member at Seattle Golf Club. Borup became the head pro at Everett Golf and Country Club until his retirement three years ago, He is still a member at Everett G&CC, as is Trosvig, who became an Everett dentist.

The three have stayed close all these years. Two months ago they traveled to Scotland with another classmate for a two-week golf vacation. They played some of Scotland’s famous courses, including St. Andrews and Carnoustie, then attended the British Open at Turnberry.

“It was quite a trip,” Kauffman said. “It was just a wonderful two weeks.”

Smith, meanwhile, became a head pro at golf clubs in Oregon, while Richer returned to Everett High School as a teacher and coach. For 28 years he guided the golf team of which he was once an integral part until his death in 1998.

Being part of such a strong program helped them go forward into successful careers, the men agree.

“I think it instilled some confidence in us in other areas of our lives,” Trosvig said. “I know I felt blessed to have been able to associate with guys who put effort into being successful in their golf and ultimately to become successful in their business world.“