Shorecrest tops list of area boys golf teams

By Tony Dondero

Four Shoreline area boys golf teams tee it up this spring, with some familiar faces and many new faces. Here’s the outlook for each school:

Shorecrest

Shorecrest coach Brian Story has high hopes for his top threesome of junior Jens Bracht, senior Avi Singh and senior Kai Aoki.

All three could qualify for state and help the Scots make a run at a team trophy.

Bracht, who shot a one-under-par, two-day score of 143 to tie for fifth at the state 3A tournament at Indian Canyon Golf Course last year, is the Scots’ best putter and overall player.

Bracht has a good chance to place again, and Singh, who made it to state but didn’t make the cut, could do so this year, Shorecrest coach Brian Story said.

“They both have a good chance of performing better than last year,” Story said.

All three have worked hard in the offseason to get better, but Aoki has improved the most, Story said.

They all hit long but play smart and stay out of trouble, Story said. As the weather gets better he expects them to be shooting in the low to mid-30s for nine holes.

The Scots’ No. 4 player is junior Cole Uppinghouse and freshman Andrew Hewitt fills the No. 5 slot. The Scots keep eight players on their roster.

Shorecrest plays in the Western Conference South Division’s Group B, which includes Shorewood, Edmonds-Woodway, Meadowdale and Kamiak.

“Kamiak looks real good,” Story said. “We’ll hopefully be on their heels.

The 3A District 1 tournament will be held at Avalon Links in Burlington while state will be held at Homestead Farms in Lynden.

Shorewood

Shorewood golf coach Justin Johnson started the season with a huge gap to fill with the departure of Ricky McDonald, who finished 11th in the state 4A tournament last year as a freshman.

McDonald moved to southern California to attend Palm Desert High School, which has a top golf program.

With McDonald gone, the Thunderbirds’ No. 1 player is senior Sean Quinn, who Johnson expects to shoot “around par or just over it.”

Sophomore Omair Kahn returns as well and fills the No. 2 spot. Freshman Max McKinley is a solid No. 3 and sophomore Riley Brindle is the No. 4 player. Senior Sam Treperinas and his sophomore brother, Pete, round out the top six.

The team has more depth than last year and only six strokes separate the varsity players, Johnson said,

Quinn has the opportunity to qualify for state, held this year at Shuksan Golf Club in Bellingham, “if he can get his mental game in check,” Johnson said.

Meanwhile, Kamiak and Jackson are the teams to beat in 4A District 1.

King’s

The Knights have a young but talented team out this year for new coach Myrle Carner.

One player not back is Jeff Neely, a fourth-place finisher at the state 2A tournament last year, who transferred from King’s.

Of this year’s group, five of the eight top players are freshmen and the other three are sophomores.

At the top of the ladder is freshman Calvin McCutchen, who shoots about even to three-over par.

Sophomore Nick Hardy, fills the No. 2 slot and can also shoot par.

Next is freshman Price Cosho, grandson of former Professional Golfers’ Association pro Don Bies. Bies, 70, helps teach the players on a regular basis, Carner said.

Sophomore Spencer Woods-Coston and sophomore Jin Oh round out the top five. Freshmen Ryan Hoff, Ryker Young and Drew McCurdy also play on the varsity.

The top four golfers in the ladder all have the potential to reach state, Carner said.

“They’ve got all the talent in the world, great swings, great backgrounds,” said Carner, who returns for his fifth year as the King’s boys golf coach following a two-year hiatus. “They all have a shot at it if they dial it in on the right day.”

Lakewood, which returns its top golfers, and South Whidbey are the teams to beat in the Cascade Conference, Carner said.

Shoreline Christian

The Crusaders have an inexperienced group of golfers that are still learning the game.

“Basically, the whole team is just starting,” coach Will vanBelle said.

Three-year player Austin vanBelle and senior David Kaemingk are the best of the bunch.

Friday Harbor is expected to be the top team in the Northwest A/B League, Will vanBelle said.