The Oak Harbor High School boys golf team squeaked out a one-stroke win in a four-team non-league match at the Whidbey Golf Club Thursday.

The Wildcats, playing without their top golfer, Nick Krantz, still managed to edge Meadowdale 462-463. Marysville Getchell shot 496, and Shorecrest had only four players and did not qualify for a team score.

Haven Brown and Nick Whitley finished 1-2 in the individual standings out of 22 golfers. Brown shot a six-over 78, and Whitley carded an 81.

Nate Thompson was fourth with an 87. Matt Boyd shot 104, and Will Nickelson and Ryan Evans each finished at 112.

“Haven had a really good round,” coach David Smith said. “He played pretty steady the whole day, and his putting was really good.”

Whitley recorded three birdies on the front nine.

“(He) had one of his best nine holes in a match,” Smith said. “His short game has really improved, and I am looking forward to seeing his score totals drop some more.”

Thompson, a newcomer, has shown rapid improvement and has moved up to No. 4 on the team, according to Smith.

“I can see his scores dropping even lower later this season,” Smith said. “He is putting work into improving his golf game.”

For the season, Krantz, a freshman, ranks fourth in the Wesco North individual standings. Sophomore Brown is 12th, Whitley 20th, Thompson 36th, Boyd 37th and Nickelson 45th.

The top 30 qualify for district.

“I think both Whitley and Haven have a good chance to move up in the ranking with the next two league matches coming up,” Smith said. “I am really looking forward to the postseason and hopefully getting two or three kids going to state.”

Brown qualified for state last spring as a freshman.

“I am really impressed with Krantz and how he is playing as a ninth grader,” Smith said. “With how young this team is, all we need is to build on our No. 5 and 6 players and we could really be a contender in the Wesco North.”

Krantz did not compete Thursday because each golfer is limited to the number of contests he can play in a season, and Smith held him out so he would not miss any league matches.

Oak Harbor returns to conference play when it joins the other North teams at the Gleneagle Golf Course in Arlington at 3 p.m. Monday, April 24.

Nick Whitley launches his opening drive Thursday. (Photo by John Fisken)