VHS golf team sends one to state

Vashon High School's golf team wrapped up its regular season with a 2-5-1 league record and began the postseason last week by sending one golfer to state.

Vashon High School’s golf team wrapped up its regular season with a 2-5-1 league record and began the postseason last week by sending one golfer to state.

Last week’s district tournament marked the end of a season that began with the first golf team practice of the year on Feb. 29, when almost 30 enthusiastic students turned out for the team. About half of the participants had some golf experience and the rest were new to the game. Head coach Mark Brownell had the philosophy that those willing to turn out for practice will receive help learning the game. Most of the participants took this to heart and showed up to the Vashon Golf & Swim Club for practice four days a week in all types of weather.

Brownell was assisted this year by Jim Utter, Neil Jungemann and Cliff Eckman. The team had eight league matches with Cascade Christian, Bellevue Christian, Seattle Christian and Charles Wright. In an inter-league meet at Chambers Bay, the team finished second to Cascade Christian.

The varsity team consisted of captain Ron Kreiger, Andrew Hitchcock, Will Misel, Michael Clark, Edgar Polkat, Adam Clark and Hunter Stanley. All of the varsity players except Misel are seniors.

The League playoffs for the district tournament were held on May 12, and both Krieger and Misel qualified. Lily Cook, in her first league qualifier, made first alternate.

At the district tournament held at Gold Mountain Olympic Golf Course on May 17, Kreiger placed eighth. He will participate in the state tournament on May 24 and 25 at Liberty Lake Golf Course in Spokane.

— Cliff Eckman is assistant coach of the VHS golf team.