BURLINGTON – Seo Hee Moon made it look easy.
For that matter, so did the entire Kamiak girls golf team.
Kamiak’s freshman golfer shot a final-round 2-under par 70 to win the 4A individual state championship and the Kamiak team scored 174 total points to take the team title on Wednesday at Avalon Golf Club in Burlington.
“I feel so great right now,” said Moon in a rare display of emotion. “I started the day a little nervous, but coming down the stretch, I just thought about my score and finally knew I had it (the individual title.)”
It’s hard to imagine how she could have been nervous on a day where she opened play with a five-shot lead, no competitor got closer than four, and she won by an impressive 12 strokes with a two-round total of 137.
“She (Seo) has played in so many (junior golf) tournaments that her experience really paid off today,” said Kamiak coach Bud Davis. “It’s a special day and I’m really proud of her.”
Despite being just 15 years old, Moon, who shot a first-round 67, exhibited the poise and maturity of a seasoned champion.
She shot a two-over 38 on the front nine and allowed Olympia High School’s Carter Schick to close the gap to four strokes at the turn.
But Moon opened the back nine with birdies on the 10th and 12th and closed her miraculous run with three birdies in the final four holes to run away with the title.
“I didn’t lose my focus, and just played my game,” Moon said.
Defending state champion Sadena Parks, who was also in the final group, rebounded from a first round 75 to tie Kamiak’s Karinn Dickinson for second place with a two-round score of 149.
Kamiak cruises to team title
Kamiak made it a point that Moon wouldn’t have to celebrate alone.
The Knights cruised to the team title, scoring 174 points which almost doubled second-place Redmond’s 94 points and crushed the previous 4A state team record of 143 points.
“We knew we had a pretty strong team and expected to do well,” said Moon. “But we didn’t know we’d win it, so it’s a really great feeling.”
With all five players making Tuesday’s cut of 89 shots Kamiak was all but assured of taking the team trophy entering Wednesday’s final round.
“Going back to the beginning of the season, the girls have practiced and played consistent golf,” said Davis. “They are all wonderful, humble girls.”
Davis credited a lot of his team’s success to its work ethic in practice, and the accommodation provided by Mark Rhodes, Director of Golf at Harbour Pointe Golf Club, the Knights home course.
“(Harbour Pointe) has been tremendous about getting us on their course this year,” Davis reiterated. “And our girls were always dedicated … practicing until 5:30 or 6 o’clock p.m.”
And the future looks good for Kamiak. Most of the squad returns next year.
Moon and Rachel Choi will be sophomores and Caiti Nelson will return as a senior.
Christa Goldie will graduate this spring, as will Dickinson, who will go on to play golf at the University of Washington.
“We’ll be practicing hard and hopefully we can come back next year and win it (again),” Moon said with a smile.
At Avalon Golf Links
36 holes, par 144
Team scores-1. Kamiak 174, 2. Redmond 94, 3. Lewis and Clark 50, 4. Kentwood 46.5, 5. Eastlake 39, 6. Mead 36, T7. Olympia 35, T7. Pasco 35, 9. Decatur 27, 10. Bellarmine Prep 22.5, 11. Snohomish 18.5.
Individual results-1. Moon (Kamiak) 67-70-137, T2. Dickinson (Kamiak) 75-74-149, T2. Parks (Bethel) 75-74-149, 4. Thomas (Lewis and Clark) 76-74-150, 5. Richmond (Bothell) 77-74-151, 6. Schick (Olympia) 72-80-152, T7. Sewell (Kentridge) 78-77-155, T7. Taylor (Eastlake) 77-78-155, T7. Collura (Skyview) 76-79-155, 10. Li (Kentwood) 78-79-157.
Also-T11. Goldie (Kamiak) 79-79-158, T13. Nelson (Kamiak) 75-84-159, 16. Choi (Kamiak) 79-81-160, T25. Guthrie (Snohomish) 85-81-166, T33. Sutter (Oak Harbor) 87-87-174, 38. Nichols (Snohomish) 89-88-177, 42. Power (Cascade) 89-93-182.
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