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Here is a look at the Mid-Columbia leagues for boys and girls golf:
CBBN 4A/3A
Defending 4A district champions: Boys, Walla Walla; Girls, Richland.
Returning state qualifiers: 4A boys: Drew Reinland, sr., Walla Walla; Riley Hayfield, jr., Kamiakin; Samson Martinez, soph., Pasco; Saul Martinez, sr., Pasco. 4A girls: Mary McDonald, jr., Richland; Kristin Strankman, soph., Richland; Madison Hamm, sr., Richland; Hope Neidhold, soph., Richland.
3A boys: Scott Kim, jr., Hanford; Cole Snider, jr., Hanford. 3A girls: Bri Hadler, soph., Hanford; Renae Visser, jr., Sunnyside.
Boys: Wa-Hi returns Reinland, who won the district title and finished eighth at state before tying for second at the Washington State Amateur, but graduated a pair of state qualifiers from its district titlists.
Last week's season-opening Pasco Invite (won by Reinland in a playoff) showed how wide-open the league should be this season. Southridge -- led by newcomer Nick Mandell and holdover Austin Westphal -- won the team title by one shot over Kamiakin, with Hanford and Richland also in contention.
Pasco won't have the depth of years past because of the Chiawana split, but the Martinez brothers should be among the league leaders. The Riverhawks have junior Brad Barber, who was Pasco's No. 3 a year ago and finished tied for fifth at the Invite.
Girls: No surprises here. Richland dominated the league a year ago and should do so again, returning four state qualifiers -- including McDonald, the All-Area player of the year.
Strankman and Neidhold were named as alternates for the 24th annual North Pacific Junior Ladies Team Golf Matches in late May in British Columbia.
Hanford brings back Hadler and added Taylor Kain-Godoy and Kelsey Aiello, who each have posted top-15 finishes in their first two tournaments. Kamiakin doesn't have one standout but balanced scoring led by second-team all-league senior Amy Verderber. Ditto for Southridge, led by Lauren Goetz.
CWAC
Defending district champions: Boys, Othello; Girls, Othello.
Returning state qualifiers: Boys: Sam Para, jr., Othello; Dylan Jahns, sr., Othello; Chad Hancock, jr., Prosser; Jared Kummer, jr., Othello. Girls: Devyn Olson, sr., Othello; Delanie Towle, soph., Othello.
Boys: The Huskies tied for fifth at the Pasco Invite and showed they have the potential to be the class of the league again. As usual, Ephrata and Selah figure to be strong, and Prosser has been steadily improving its program, finishing a solid fourth at districts last year.
Girls: Besides their two returning qualifiers, Othello has Paulie Garza, whom coach Heather McDonald considers her team's most improved player. The Huskies will need her as Selah and Ephrata look to be their toughest challengers.
SCAC
Defending district champions: Boys, Royal; Girls, Royal.
Returning state qualifiers: Boys: Kyle Spartveit, jr., Royal; Trevor Iverson, sr., Royal. Girls: Lacy Goroski, sr., Royal.
Southeast 2B/1B
Returning state qualifiers: Boys: Sean Williams, soph., DeSales; Dain Henderson, jr., Dayton; Collin Price, jr., Tri-Cities Prep. Girls: Sam Pegram, sr., Tri-Cities Prep; Shelby Kadinger, sr., Tri-Cities Prep.
