Ridgefield wins first state golf title in school history

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With a total score of 128, the Ridgefield Spudders boys golf team chipped in the 2A State Golf Championship on May 22 at Liberty Lake Golf Course in Spokane. The team, which went undefeated in its fall season, is made up of six boys. All six made it through the first round and finished in the top 41.

“(I’m) Proud of ‘em,” assistant coach Jeff Lines said. “We had an undefeated season from A to Z and a great team effort today to bring it home and I’m proud of every one of them.”

Senior Kellen Bringhurst tied for fourth in state with a score of 155 and echoed a lot of the same feelings as Lines.

“It was awesome seeing some of the guys pull it together and turn it around and shoot really good scores on the back nine of the first day yesterday (May 21),” he said. “It was a cool experience.”

Kale Suomi, the team’s other senior, immediately called his parents after the win.

“I had never been so emotional with joy with finding out that we won because it’s been such a big goal of ours,” he said.



Bringhurst said the highlights of the tournament were a chip he hit for birdie on hole seven and being there with the team when they found out they won state.

“We all had the goal from the beginning of this year. We wanted to win state. When we received the news that we won it was the coolest thing, it was the best feeling ever,” Bringhurst said. “Having an undefeated golf season in the fall and coming back in the spring and winning state by 45 points, it was an awesome experience. I’m so glad to be a part of this good group of guys.”

“The real key to this is the depth that we have on this team,” head coach Bob Ball said. “When somebody is not at their best, the back end of the team picked him up.”

To prepare for the tournament, Coach Ball said the team worked on course management as well as spending a lot of time on their short game. The team also had a chance to practice for two days at the course in Spokane. As for winning it all, Ball called it a great six man accomplishment.

“I’m just so proud that the whole team contributed,” he said. “It took six to pull them through.”