Shorecrest senior Jens Bracht figured he needed to shoot a 66 on the second day of the 3A boys state golf tournament at Bellingham Country Club to win.
Bracht made a run and shot a 70, but it was short of the 66 he did need to catch Matt Rawitzer of Squalicum who won by four strokes.
Bracht finished with a two-day total of 143 to finish second for the second consecutive year. Bracht beat Rawitzer, who was in a three-way playoff at state last year with Bracht and eventual winner Alex Moore of Hanford, in a playoff for the 3A District 1 title the week before.
Bracht shot a 73 the first day but Rawitzer shot a 69 followed by a 70 for a two-day total of 139 on his home course.
Bracht said he struggled with his swing on day one and consulted University of Washington golf coach Matt Thurmond, who he will play for next year, and his swing coach Craig Welty of Skagit Golf and Country Club.
“Basically at the top of my swing my club was offline,” Bracht said. “I got my swing straighter and I hit my driver a lot straighter the next day, It was a good fix for the day.”
Bracht was hooking his drives and wasn’t hitting the ball solidly.
“It was a bad ball-striking day in general,” he sadi.
The next day, Bracht made seven birdies but made too many mistakes to overtake or tie Rawitzer. “That hasn’t been like me the last several weeks when I was winning,” Bracht said.
Bracht was 3-under par after eight holes on day two, but bogeyed nine and double-bogeyed 10.
“A couple times I thought I was in contention and making a run at Matt,” Bracht said. “I was trying to make as many birdies as I could. I made too many mistakes and couldn’t string it together to take it low.”
Bracht took more risks the second day to lower his score, but “it was up and down all day,” he said.
Rawitzer led by three strokes with two holes to go. With Rawitzer playing on his home course, Bracht knew a comeback like he made last year, down five strokes with two holes to go, was unlikely.
“He’s not going to mess up,” Bracht said. “He finshed with a birdie and par on 18 and won the tournament.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
