Hui leads Southridge heading into district golf

The Southridge girls golf team is riding high heading into Monday’s Mid-Columbia Conference district tournament at Columbia Point in Richland.

The Suns, behind conference MVP Samantha Hui, won the regular-season title and could send as many as three to state next week.

“I’m really excited to play, but not about missing school,” said Hui, a sophomore who is a 4.0 student. “There’s too much work to make up. I’ve played at Columbia Point a couple of times, but I spend most of my time at Canyon (Lakes).”

Southridge freshman Therese Warner also has been making waves this spring.

“They have been fantastic,” Suns coach Spencer Reiboldt said. “They feed off each other and are very competitive. They both want to be No. 1 for us and they are always fighting for that.”

The 3A girls will advance six to the state tournament next week at Indian Canyon in Spokane.

“With six, we are going to represent our district well,” Reiboldt said. “Kamiakin has a couple of really good girls (Alexa Clark and Brianna Esvelt) and our third girl, Meredith Hibbard, hopefully will have a chance to make it. It has been a goal of hers and every year she is just a stroke or two away, it seems.”

Hui said she will rely on her all-round game to try and earn a return trip to state.

“My drives are pretty straight, but I have been working really hard on my chipping and putting,” she said. “That has saved me the last couple of tournaments. It comes down to the short game for me.”

Hui, who has grown up golfing against Pasco senior Jalayne Martinez and Richland senior Danika Palm, will miss playing against her friends — for the most part.

“I play with Alexa a lot at tournaments, but Jay and Danika have outgrown some of the tournaments,” Hui said. “It’s sad to see them go away. I grew up with them. Seeing them in a different field is a relief. They are really good and it gives me a better chance of placing higher.”

The 3A boys will tee off at 11 a.m. Monday, with the girls following at 12:30 p.m.

The 4A boys and girls are at Suns Willows in Pasco. Action is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

4A REGIONAL BASEBALL: Richland and Walla Walla were tied at 4 in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday when rain halted play.

The game will resume at 4 p.m. Monday at Murr Field.

Richland scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning, then held Wa-Hi scoreless in the bottom half to send the game to extra innings.

When play resumes Monday, Carter Davis will be at the plate for the Blue Devils, who have a man on first with two out.

SCAC DISTRICT BASEBALL: The championship game between Kiona-Benton and Zillah was stopped in the top of the second inning Saturday by rain.

The game will resume at 4 p.m. Monday at Richland High School. Admission is free.

The Bears will be at the plate with a man on third base when the game starts.

4A STATE SOCCER: The Pasco Bulldogs (17-2) will host Mt. Rainier (1-7-2) in a loser-out game at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Edgar Brown Stadium.

This story was originally published May 15, 2016 at 9:19 PM with the headline "Hui leads Southridge heading into district golf."