The Vashon High School golf team started practice on Feb. 25 under new coach Paul Wahlen and assistant coaches Neil Jungemann and Cliff Eckman.

Several players were lost to graduation in 2018 so there were only three players returning with experience: Koen Shaw, Jake Harrah and Mathew Jones. New players to the team are Lewis Kenagy, Colin Pottinger, Jacob Chavez and Chris Folau.

Three of the new players were new to golf but have picked up the game fast enough to participate in matches.

The team has been led by Koen Shaw, a sophomore and Jake Harrah, a junior. Koen has been our number one player since turning out as a freshman and has a good chance to go to State.

It has mostly been a rebuilding year and all of the players have contributed to our matches. The team has lost five matches and won two. There are three league matches left on the schedule: at home with Seattle Christian, April 23, Charles Wright Academy, April 30 and away with Bellevue Christian, April 25. The Nisqually League Tournament is May 9 at Gold Mountain, Olympic Course in Bremerton. The District Tournament is the following week for qualifying players.

Coach Wahlen has brought a lot of enthusiasm to the team and is hoping for a bigger turn out next year. It doesn’t matter whether students have played before or have their own clubs. Clubs will be provided and team members can learn a game they can play the rest of their lives.