Wolfpack boys golf team takes third at CWU invite

  • Chris Trujillo<br>For the Enterprise
  • Monday, March 3, 2008 11:29am

In a speedy, there-and-back trip to Yakima, the Jackson boys golf team competed against 16 teams from around the state and returned home beaming with confidence.

After logging more than 300 miles on the road (round trip), the Wolfpack returned home from the one-day trip sporting a third-place trophy from the annual Central Washington Invite at the 6,700-yard, par-72 Apple Tree Golf Course. The Timberwolves finished with a combined score of 310, two strokes behind second-place Kennewick and eight strokes behind first place Eastmont High School.

“It was a really good trip,” fifth-year Jackson coach Michael Tong said. “We played very well. There was a lot of good teams there so that was a very big confidence builder.”

The Timberwolves, who carded an average score of 77.5, were one of three Western Conference teams that attended the tournament. The North Division’s Snohomish Panthers finished ninth with a score of 330 and Lake Stevens finished 12th with 334 strokes.

Jackson’s impressive finish at the talent-heavy tournament came as no surprise to Tong, whose team finished first in its division and third at the district tournament last season.

“We have always been in contention for all the major tournaments including the Tom Dolan, Egbers Invite, the division tournament and the district tournament,” Tong said. “It really helps the team when they perform well at these tournaments because they’re playing against some of the best golfers from the state, including eastern Washington.”

Jackson’s Sean Fitzpatrick earned medalist honors at Monday’s Tom Dolan tournament, while the Wolfpack tied for second.

Aside from losing graduate Mike Hansen, who is currently playing golf on a scholarship at Gonzaga University and who qualified for the state tournament four consecutive years, the Timberwolves return a sturdy, experienced core of players beginning with senior Joel Micka.

At the No. 1 spot, Micka brings leadership and, according to Tong, excellent ball-striking skills. Juniors Sean Fitzpatrick, Chris Vargas and Ryan Young fill out the No. 2, 3 and 4 slots respectively. Last year, the four golfers were ranked among the top 15 in the district.

“They have a good chance of doing the same this year which would qualify them for the state tournament in Spokane,” Tong said about his upperclassmen. “Joel (Micka) has a great feel for golf and he is a great ball striker who consistently scores well. Sean (Fitzpatrick) hits a long ball and he has enormous potential and can go low. Chris (Vargas) and Ryan (Young) are good strong performers and they should be big contributors to the team’s overall success.”

Newcomers Chris Chung, the team’s lone freshman, and sophomore Huey Siemer round out the remaining two spots on the team’s six-member lineup.

Tong said: “Huey (Siemer) and Chris (Chung) are newcomers to varsity and they have improved rapidly. They have a good all-round game and can produce low scores at any time. They should continue to improve.”

Jackson begins the two-round division tournament Wednesday, May 3, at Legion Memorial Golf Course and Monday, May 8, at Walter E. Hall in Everett. The district tournament begins the following Friday and Monday at Gallery Golf Course in Oak Harbor.

“Our team has good chemistry and if we peak at the right time we can compete with all the best teams in the district,” Tong said. “We have a good combination of experience and young good players.”

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