Sequim’s Ben Sweet and Dominic Riccobene finished first and second individually as the Wolves qualified three golfers directly to the state 2A tournament while storming to a 19-stroke victory at the Olympic League Boys Golf Championship at Kitsap Golf & Country Club in Bremerton on May 9.
Joining Sequim’s boys on the way to state is SHS senior Hannah Wagner, who placed fourth at the league final, also held at Kitsap Golf & Country Club on May 9.
Sweet fired an 8-over-par 79 to win the league championship on the twisting and turning par-71 Kitsap layout and will be joined at state by Riccobene, one stroke back with an 80, as well as Cole Smithson, who fired a 14-over-par 85 to book a state berth.
“The course was playing tough and the nerves were high with state and district bids on the line,” Sequim coach Sean O’Mera said.
“Ben and Dom stood out to me with their solid play: neither of them had their best games, but in a sign of their ability, they just flat-out got it done. They grinded and produced a score on a tough day.”
Smithson sealing up a state bid was a bit of a surprise, although he had been playing his best golf of the spring to close out the regular season.
“Cole on the other hand just played his best round of golf ever in a tournament,” O’Mera said. “He really was incredible. For him to shoot that round on that day in that tournament with a state berth on the line — wow, that was fantastic!
“I think a realistic goal was for Cole to play well and make it to districts. Him going directly to state is truly fantastic.”
Pryce Glasser finished ninth with a 91 to advance to the district tournament, which was set for Tuesday, May 17, at The Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim; results were not available at press time.
The top seven placers at league advanced to the state tournament while the next nine players moved on to the district event and will have a chance to qualify for state, so the Wolves could still have a full complement of players to compete for a state team championship.
“Pryce’s swing let him down a bit, but I know he will come back. We are excited to have a week to prepare for districts,” O’Mera said.
Sequim, undefeated Olympic League regular season champs, finished with 335 strokes while Kingston and North Kitsap tied for second with 354 and Port Angeles was fourth with 379.
Lars Wiker and Zack Thompson also played for Sequim but didn’t advance to districts.
Port Angeles’ Roughriders qualified three players for the district tournament: Edun Bailey and Nate Anderson tied for 12th place with rounds of 23-over-par 94, while freshman Phoenix Flores squeaked in with a 95, good for 15th place.
The class 2A state boys tournament will be held at Olympia’s Capitol City Golf Club on May 24-25.
In the girls’ competition, Wagner finished fourth after shooting a 98 and heads to the class 2A state girls tournament at Tumwater Valley Golf Course on May 24-25.
Port Angeles totaled 420 points, edging Sequim (430) for the team title.
A quartet of Sequim girls qualified for district play, including Jelissa Julmist, Emily Post, Sydnee Price and Juliana Tamblyn.
At districts, held May 17 in Sequim, seven boys and four girls move on to the state tourney.
With a round of 95, Port Angeles’s Piper Williams claimed the Olympic League girls golf title.
