Christian Harlow of King's Way Christian named All-Region boys golfer of the year
Golf is a game of numbers.
Though just a high school freshman, Christian Harlow has already shot a number few golfers achieve - 61.
Harlow finished the fall portion of this season by shooting 11-under 61 on the final day of the 1A district championships at Tumwater Valley. He won the two-day tournament by 21 strokes and led King's Way Christian to the team title.
Though there is no database of record-low scores in Washington high school competition, that score is lower than the WIAA state tournament single-round record of 63 shot by Bishop Blanchet's Max Herendeen in 2022.
Harlow, the Columbian's All-Region boys golfer of the year, wasn't pleased with his first shot on that late-October day. But he birdied that first hole, then birdied the second.
"I was like OK, now we're getting into it," he said. "After that I blanked out and just hit the ball."
Harlow finds he plays his best when he doesn't think at all. It's a mental technique he's been working on with a sports performance coach for the past six months.
"Thinking creates pressure," Harlow said. "You get nervous."
Golf may seem like second-nature to Harlow, who had a plastic club in his hands as a 2 year old.
It's also in his DNA. His father, Chris Harlow, is a former collegiate golfer who coaches the King's Way team.
His grandfather played in a handful of professional events and was the club pro at Preston Trail - the prestigious golf club in Dallas, Texas, that formerly hosted the PGA Tour's Byron Nelson Classic and counted baseball legend Mickey Mantle among its members.
Chris Harlow said his father blamed putting for him not breaking into the PGA Tour. It's why Christian focuses on his short game more than anything.
"Over the generations, you learn from grandpa, learn from dad, then you have your own experiences," Chris Harlow said. "All of that has been poured into Christian."
Christian Harlow started playing in tournaments by age 6 before competing in U.S. Kids Golf events in the Portland area. At 11, he placed second at the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, N.C.
But it wasn't until two years ago that Harlow decided to fully pursue his potential in golf.
"It wasn't dad or grandpa pushing him," Chris Harlow said. "It was on his own."
Part of mining that full potential is learning from disappointment and near-misses. Harlow had one of those last month at the Class 1A state tournament.
After shooting two bogey-free rounds and closing with a 7-under 65, Harlow found himself in a playoff after Chelan's Carson Clinton made a 40-foot putt on the final hole.
Clinton won the state title on the first playoff hole.
"You're never going to be as good as you can possibly be without those experiences," Chris Harlow said. "We call them logs on the fire. You have those moments when you're in tears about how close it was or why you couldn't perform. Having those experiences at such a young age will only help him excel."
Harlow has a busy summer ahead with tournaments nearly every week. On June 1 at Rock Creek in Portland, he earned one of 11 berths into the U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying event on July 14 in Creswell, Ore.
He'll also compete at his home course this weekend at the Royal Oaks Invitational, which attracts top amateur golfers from across the Northwest.
Harlow doesn't shy away from a challenge. The sport's difficulty is what fuels his excitement.
"I love how hard it is," he said. "I like trying to figure out how to maneuver my way through and get better."
Harlow wants to play collegiate golf and eventually turn pro. Whatever the future holds, he'll always have that number 61 to his name.
"After I made the last putt, that's when it sunk in," he said. "I was pretty shocked but I also knew I had the capability of doing that."
The rest of the All-Region team
Collin Clark, Camas: Junior was 4A district runner-up, third at bi-district and top local at 4A state.
Ryker Jun, Camas: Junior won 4A district title and helped Camas to bi-district team title.
Trenton Maddox, Washougal: Senior was district runner-up and placed fourth at 2A state tournament.
Brody Newcombe, Ridgefield: Junior was 16th at 2A state tournament, fourth at district and 2A GSHL tournament runner-up.
Luke Potter, Columbia River: Senior placed 12th in third 2A state appearance, helping Rapids place second.
Gavin Shaffer, Washougal: Junior was 2A district runner-up helping Panthers win team title.
Owen Winn, Columbia River: Sophomore was 2A state runner-up and district champ in playoff.
Lucas Zygar, Columbia River: Sophomore placed fifth at 2A state tournament, sixth at district, and tied for fourth at league.
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