Golf preview: 5 golfers to watch

Published 10:31 pm Monday, March 21, 2016

Quinton Borseth

Stanwood | Jr.

Borseth was an alternate to state as a freshman, and as a sophomore played the first day but failed to make the cut.

“My hope is that he gets back to state and improves on his performance from last year,” Stanwood coach Scott Bates said. “Last year was his first time under fire (at state) and I think he learned from that, so hopefully this year he’ll have more success.

“He’s a big boy, so he can get his drives out there,” Bates added. “His drives are fairly straight most of the time, but if not, he can recover well with his approach shot and give himself a chance to two-putt.”

Jordan Brajcich

Jackson | Jr.

Brajcich, an alternate at the 2015 Class 4A state tournament, is a standout athlete. In addition to golf, where he has already earned two letters, he is a quarterback on Jackson’s football team and a forward on the basketball team.

“It’s pretty special to have a three-sport letterman in this day of everybody specializing,” Timberwolves coach Jim Anderson said. “(Brajcich) hits the ball solid, but where a lot of kids like to go out and just mash the ball, he’s a pretty good thinker on the golf course, too.”

Ethan Casto

Snohomish | Sr.

Casto was in a three-way tie for first after regulation at the 2015 Class 4A state tournament, then finished second on the third hole of a playoff, helping the Panthers to a fifth-place team finish.

Casto is also the reigning district medalist and will be bidding to play at state for a fourth year.

“I would say he’s the top player in 4A coming back,” Snohomish coach Joey Mutcheson said. “He definitely has the experience. Plus you can’t get a better kid on your team with his work ethic and also wanting to make the people around him better.”

Brayden Webb

Lake Stevens | Sr.

Webb qualified for the Class 4A state tournament a year ago and opened with a 76, but unfortunately that score was one stroke shy of making the cut. Getting to the second day this year is an obvious goal, Vikings coach Cliff McKinlay said.

The best part of Webb’s game is that “his tee shots are pretty solid right now,” McKinlay said. “He’s pretty good about keeping the ball in play. And he’s steady on the course. He doesn’t get too high or too low.

“He’s just a grinder. And he’s got some tournament experience outside of high school golf, which is helpful.”

Steve Shih

Archbishop Murphy | Jr.

Shih, who had a top-10 finish at the Class 1A state tournament a year ago, stands 5-foot-6, but he still “averages 280 (yards) off the tee,” said Archbishop Murphy coach Jack Serwold. “He’s very straight and he’s a super scrambler. He gets up and down from places you wouldn’t believe.

“He’s probably less than a 1 handicap, so he’s very good. He will be our medalist most of the time, but he’s got four other kids right at his heels and they can take it away from him if he stumbles.”

Renee Kwak

Kamiak | Sr.

Kwak is not only aiming for her fourth appearance at the Class 4A state tournament this year — she tied for 20th in 2015 — she’s also bidding for her fourth consecutive district title.

“She’s a smart girl and she’s mentally tough,” Knights coach Vic Alinen said. “Coming off the tee, her drives are straight and they’re long. She puts an intimidation on you right from the get-go, and I love that about her.”

The Knights are hoping for a top-four finish at state this year, Alinen said, “and she’s the leader of our band.”

Emmi Modahl

Arlington | Sr.

Modahl made her third trip to state a year ago, tying for 18th at the 3A tournament. She hopes to be even better this spring, but first must recover from a broken foot suffered during the basketball season.

“I think she’s looking to be a league champion, to be in contention for a district championship, and then… to make it to the second day (at state),” Arlington coach Greg Dailer said.

Among her strengths, he added, “is her attitude. She never gets too high and she never gets too low. She has a pretty even-keel attitude most of the time. … She also has a real consistent swing and she’s able to put together solid rounds every time out.”

Hannah Roh

King’s | Sr.

The King’s girls golf team has won back-to-back Class 1A state titles and Roh has been a big part of that run, with a fourth-place finish in 2014 and a third-place finish a year ago. According to King’s coach Simonette Sancho, Roh’s goal this year is another team championship and maybe an individual championship, too. “She wants to have it all,” Sancho said.

In tournament play, Roh has even-keel composure. “She keeps her emotions in check,” Sancho said. “When you see her play, she’s pretty steady. … And her all-around game is something to watch for, from her driver all the way to her putting.”

Morgan Rood

Meadowdale | Sr.

The Mavericks are led by Rood, who is aiming for a third straight trip to the Class 3A tournament. She missed the cut as a sophomore, but returned a year ago to finish in a tie for 12th.

Vreni Todd

Snohomish | Soph.

Despite struggling with her putter at the Class 4A state tournament last season, Todd still capped her freshman season by finishing in a tie for 23rd.

“She hit the ball well enough to be in the top 10,” Snohomish coach Ken Roberts said, “but she putted really poorly.”

This season, he went on, “I think she’s going to be a really, really good golfer. …She’s stronger this year. She’s hitting the ball farther, she’s hitting the ball more accurately and her short game has also improved. So I think she’s going to have a good season.”