Community sports roundup: Local golfers earn alternate spots
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Local products Jacob Koppenberg, Ethan Casto and Cody Oakes all were named first alternates for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship following their efforts in qualifying tournaments.
Koppenberg, an Everett High School graduate who’s now based in Bellingham, teamed with Reid Hatley of Hayden Lake, Idaho, to tie for first in qualifying on Sept. 29 at The Home Course in DuPont. Koppenberg and Hatley shot an 11-under 61 to tie for first with Brandon Peterson and John Sand. Peterson and Sand won the nine-hole playoff to earn the qualifying bid, while Koppenberg and Hatley are the first alternates.
Casto, a graduate of Snohomish High School, and Oakes, a graduate of Arlington High School, teamed to tie for second at the qualifier held Oct. 6 at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla. Casto and Oakes, who are both members of the Western Washington University men’s golf team, shot an 8-under 64, tying with two other teams to finish one stroke behind the winning team of Ethan Evans and Max Herendeen. Casto and Oakes won the playoff to be named first alternates.
The 2021 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship takes place May 22-26 at Chambers Bay Golf Course.in University Place.
GNAC delaying the start of winter sports
The northwest’s NCAA Division II conference has decided to delay the start of winter sports.
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference, which includes schools in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and British Columbia, voted to postpone the start of men’s basketball, women’s basketball and indoor track and field to no earlier than Jan. 7 as a measure to try and slow the spread of coronavirus. The Jan. 7 start date will continue to be reviewed by the league over the coming months.
The league also approved plans to move the conference’s fall team sports — men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball — to the spring of 2021, if feasible. Discussions continue on the best course forward for cross country in the spring of 2021.
The GNAC is a popular destination for athletes from Snohomish County, with Western Washington, Seattle Pacific and Central Washington in particular drawing athletes from the county.
WIAA extends coaching window
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has extended its open coaching window for high school football teams through Dec. 19. The window, which allows for up to 20 football practices, was originally scheduled for Sept. 28-Nov. 30. However, the WIAA elected to extend the period as some schools are still unable to practice because of county health metrics and school district decisions.
If you have an item for the community sports roundup, email Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.
