Cam Beeson tees off on the 18th hole at Tri-Mountain Oct. 9. The Prairie High School senior took third place in the 3A district tournament.
Battle Ground golfer Anthony Tobias pumps his fist after sinking a birdie putt in a one-hole playoff to become 4A district champion Oct. 9 on the Tri-Mountain course in Ridgefield.
Trailing by seven strokes at the turn, Battle Ground golfer Anthony Tobias turned his whole day around on the back nine and became the 4A district champion Oct. 9 on the Tri-Mountain course in Ridgefield.
“It was a really good feeling to win this as a senior,” Tobias said. “It’s my last year and there was some good competition out here. To be able to finish it off this year was amazing.”
The Battle Ground Tiger willed himself back into contention by shooting an even-par 35 on the back nine. He parred holes 10 through 13 and then birdied 14. A bogey on 15 was his only blemish. Although his approach on 18 dipped into the sand trap, Tobias saved par after his next shot out of the sand rolled to just a few feet in front of the hole.
Camas sophomore Owen Huntington missed his birdie putt on 18 and settled for par. Therefore, both golfers finished tied for the lead at 153.
“There was a lot of nerves coming in,” Tobias said. “Both Owen and I played pretty well.”
The Tiger and the Papermaker went back to the first tee to begin a playoff for the district championship. Both golfers smashed their drives down the fairway. Tobias put pressure on Huntington by landing his approach shot about 8 feet from the hole.
“I had been struggling with most of my wedges all day,” Tobias said. “Finally being able to hit one really well felt really great.”
Huntington’s approach was also on target. His ball dropped on the green about 10 feet away from the hole. The Papermaker just missed his birdie putt and tapped in for par, opening the door for the Tiger.
“I had been feeling the putter most of the day so I was pretty confident,” Tobias said. “It wasn’t too much pressure. I just got up there, read it and felt the putt.”
He put just the right spin on the ball and it settled into the cup for a birdie. Tobias pumped his fist into the air. He had just become district champion.
“It was great. A lot of emotions surging in at once,” he said. “I wasn’t hitting the clubs all that great, but I putted pretty well when I needed it.”
Skyview edged out Battle Ground for the district team title by three points, but the Tigers are still going to the 4A bi-district tournament in the spring. Garhet Ballard earned sixth place with a 163. Nick Leckwold followed with a 174. Paul Golke (180), Alex Salanis (182) and Cade Barker (183) finished just a few strokes apart.
Beeson earns third for Prairie
The 3A district boys golf tournament also took place at Tri-Mountain Oct. 8 and 9. Prairie High School senior Cam Beeson secured third place with a 157.
“I started off kind of rough, but the putts started dropping and I changed my swing a little bit and was able to make a comeback,” Beeson said. “My putter worked better for me than it ever has. Anything outside of 20 feet, I put within three or four inches. My putter was just phenomenal.”
Three Falcons finished in the top 10 to help Prairie earn second place as a team and a trip to bi-districts in the spring.
“I think it’s awesome that I get to spend more time with my teammates and play another round with them,” Beeson said. “I’ll be practicing all winter. If you just put in some time, even if it’s not a whole lot, you will be better by bi-districts.”
Isaac Kinsman earned seventh place for the Falcons with a 170 and Josh Kuzmovich took 10th place with a 176. Hugh Foster (185), Marcos McCumber (188) and Brenden Garvin (193) rounded out the scores for Prairie.
Beeson has high hopes for his teammates at bi-districts. An opportunity to go to state together is what they have all been dreaming about.
“Coming into high school, I was looking for a group of guys I could be a family with and I really found that here,” Beeson said. “Coming into this season, I didn’t know how it was going to be without our four seniors. But this year has been no different. It’s a family.”
Ridgefield wins league tournament
The Ridgefield High School boys golf team clinched first place at the 2A Greater St. Helens League championship tournament Thursday on the Lewis River course in Woodland.
Senior Kellen Bringhurst shot a 74, which was 2-over par, to win the tournament. Teammate Kale Sumoi followed in third place with a 78. Sophomore Cade Bringhurst, Kellen’s brother, finished in fourth place with a 79. Nick Radosevich earned eighth place with an 84. Eli Saenz secured 16th place (88) and Caden Whitsitt tied for 19th place (91).
The Spudders return to Lewis River Tuesday and Wednesday for the 2A district tournament.
