Wildcats fight weather, foes to finish 4th / Boys golf

By Jim Waller • April 17, 2018 1:30 am

Nasty weather negated any home course advantage Oak Harbor High School might have had in the Wesco North boys golf match at the Whidbey Golf Club Monday, April 16.

It was the Wildcats’ turn to host the seven-team Wesco North, and the athletes were forced to slog through a waterlogged course.

Oak Harbor finished fourth in the team standings in the third of five regular-season divisional matches.

Everett won Monday’s match with 407 strokes, Snohomish shot 407, Arlington 419, Oak Harbor 459 and Marysville Getchell 564. Marysville-Pilchuck and Stanwood did not qualify for a team score.

Everett’s Austin Duffy and Ronny Kildall tied for medalist honors with three-over 75s. Oak Harbor’s Nick Krantz tied for third with a 78.

Haven Brown posted the next best score, 88, for the Wildcats, followed by Nate Thompson (90), Nick Whitley (95), Wyatt Bright (108) and Billy Titzkowski (110).

Oak Harbor placed fourth for the second consecutive week after taking fifth in the first Wesco North match.

Two North matches remain; the next is at Everett’s Legion Golf Course at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 25.

Before heading to Everett, Oak Harbor will compete in the Gamble Sands Invitational in Brewster at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, and host a six-team, non-league match at 3 p.m. Monday, April 23.

After this Monday’s match, Oak Harbor coach David Smith said the season as a whole is “going good.”

“I have four kids that are on track to qualify for districts,” he added. “I feel like I have seen glimmers of our potential each match, but we just haven’t quite reached it yet. I think we have room for improvement, and I know the all the team is motivated to improve and start scoring better.”

Smith is particularly pleased with his team’s dedication and work ethic.

“I have a great group of kids,” he said. “It is a great team to work with.

“This group of golfers are a lot of fun and make coaching all that more enjoyable.”

Smith cited Krantz’s consistent play and Thompson’s willingness to work as two of the high points.

“Nick Krantz has had great rounds this season and is looking like he should make first-team all-league,” Smith said.

“Nate Thompson has really put a lot of work into his game and is improving his scores. He has a lot of potential to get better this season.”

Smith also lauded the Whidbey Golf Club and its members for their support.

The team’s inconsistency is Smith’s greatest concern so far this season.

“They all can score well, we just can’t seem to get it all at the same time,” he said. “We need to eliminate the blow-up holes and we need to get our team total score lower so we can compete more.”