By Matt Moss
Sports Editor
Despite placing third in the final Wesco North Division Group A mini-tournament, the Oak Harbor girls golf team edged Stanwood by one point to earn the group title.
The Wildcats took third at Tuesday’s tourney at Glen Eagle Golf Course after winning the previous three tourneys. Stanwood was first, scoring 105 stableford points over the nine-hole contest. Mount Vernon followed with 95 points and the Cats had 88. Arlington finished fourth with 49 points.
“We dropped the ball on Tuesday,” said Wildcats head coach Scott McPhee. “Stanwood really came on and played better than they have for a while.”
One highlight was the play of Oak Harbor senior Tiffany Gordon, who took medalist honors by scoring 29 points on the day.
“She had a great day, it was one of her best rounds of the year,” said McPhee about Gordon’s day.
Senior Kate Waller was the Cats’ next best finisher, totaling 24 points. Sophomore Camille Merritt added 19, junior Katie Ellis had 12, and Melissa Ortolani had four.
“We didn’t play that well,” McPhee said. “Kate didn’t play like she can and we needed to score more points from the lower spots. It just wasn’t happening, but that’s golf.”
The Wildcats and the rest of Wesco Group A will meet up with the schools in Wesco Group B – Monroe, Lake Stevens, Cascade, Snohomish, and Marysville – in two league meets to help decide the overall league title. The first tournament takes place May 1 at Snohomish Golf Course, while the second is at Whidbey Golf & Country Club on May 6. McPhee believes that his squad will have to play extremely well if they are to win the league title.
“We’ll probably have to win both divisional matches to be North champs,” he said. “But we are the champions of Group A which is something to be proud of.”
On Thursday the Wildcats hosted South Whidbey and Marysville in a non-conference meet.
Oak Harbor finished second behind South Whidbey, but Gordon continued her hot play, taking medalist honors for the second straight match. The senior scored 26 points over nine holes, one point ahead of her teammate Waller.
“The highlight of the match was the play of Tiffany,” McPhee said. “In the past two matches she has carried the team through a down period. I’m very pleased by her attitude and her play.”
After Gordon and Waller, the Cats got 16 points from Merritt, 14 from sophomore Danae DeLaCruz, and 11 from Ellis. Oak Harbor just couldn’t overcome the depth of the Falcons, who had four of their five players score at least 20 points. Snohomish finished third with 72 stableford points on the day.
Wesco North Division Group A meet
Stanwood 105, Mount Vernon 95, Oak Harbor 88, Arlington 49
At Glen Eagle G. C.
9 of holes, Stableford
Stanwood – Karlberg 24, Engstrom 22, Titus 22, Ludwig 21, Walrath 16. Mount Vernon – Schellhamer 25, Deterding 21, Poling 19, Van Nortwick 17, Blanc 13. OH – Gordon 29, Waller 24, Merritt 19, Ellis 12, Ortolani 4. Arlington – Pattermann 15, Whitman 13, Bowen 8, Hageman 7, Johnston 6.
South Whidbey 101, Oak Harbor 92, Marysville-Pilchuck 72
At Whidbey G&CC
9 holes, par 36
South Whidbey-Langlois 23, Pan 21, Mansfield 20, Hawley 23, Johnson 14. Oak Harbor-Waller 25, Gordon 26 (medalist), Merritt 16, Ellis 11, Delacruz 14. Marysville-Pilchuck-Parker 16, Burns 16, Malone 12, VanBeek 17, Johnson 11.
