All-Area golfers: Brown, Baumgart lead the way

Austin Brown and Emily Baumgart had little weaknesses in their golf games this spring.

Brown, who played for Southridge, was one of the best high school boys golfers in the state, and he placed fourth at the 3A boys tournament this spring.

Baumgart, a junior at DeSales who has verbally commited to Washington State University, won the girls 1B/2B state title for the second consecutive year.

Both Brown and Baumgart were named the Tri-City Herald’s golfers of the year to lead the all-area team.

Brown, who graduated last month and plans to walk-on the men’s golf team at WSU, looked back on his senior season with a lot of fondness.

“I got to spend this season with a lot of my friends,” said Brown, who led the 3A state tournament after the first day. “It was fun because we all like playing golf. It wasn’t like when we were practicing it was work. We got to hang out a lot.”

As for his game, Brown grew leaps and bounds this season, finding a lot more yardage off the tee box, but doing it with accuracy.

“I think my key this season was the accuracy,” Brown said. “Mainly, my putting was big, and my accuracy.”

Joining Brown on the first team is Southridge teammate and senior Tyler Brunson, Kamiakin sophomore Bolton Dauenhauer, Richland sophomore Carl Underwood and Richland junior Nick Yamauchi.

Southridge’s Scott Stiles was the boys coach.

Playing at a smaller school, Baumgart might not get the recognition she would deserve. But golf is golf, doesn’t matter where you play.

Baumgart scored well all season, and at the state tournament at Columbia Point Golf Course in Richland, she won the tournament by 18 strokes. This, she said, was a better season than in 2014.

“I think this year, preparation-wise, was a little better,” she said. “My focus was better. I think my overall game was consistent. I was more confident going into this year’s state tournament. I wasn’t too confident in hitting the ball last year. This year I confident.”

Baumgart challenged herself by trying to beat all of the boys’ scores.

“I did beat them quite a few times, although I played up farther in the tee boxes,” Baumgart said. “That’s how I kinda pushed myself.”

Baumgart was joined on the first team by Pasco junior Jalayne Martinez, who just recently verbally commited to Boise State University. Kamiakin sophomore Alexa Clark and senior Mia Johnson, and Southridge freshman Samantha Hui — all three who finished in the top 10 at the state 3A tournament at Horn Rapids Golf Course in Richland — complete the team.

Kamiakin’s Eric Gough is the coach.

Boys

Second team

Parker Dressler, so., Walla Walla

McGwire Hanson, fr., Kamiakin

Evan Hattori, jr., Richland

Ryan Ray, jr., Hanford

Larson Watia, sr., Southridge

Girls

Second team

Danika Palm, jr. Richland

Kea Robertson, sr., Richland

Macy Robertson, fr., Richland

Lacy Skwarek, sr., Hanford

Megan Steach, sr., Chiawana

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 10:54 PM with the headline "All-Area golfers: Brown, Baumgart lead the way."