Richland boys have sights set on a 4A state golf title

The Richland Bombers shot a practice round Monday at Meadow Springs Country Club, making sure they were loose and confident for the Class 4A boys state golf tournament.

After winning the district title last week and sending four to state, the Bombers have a purpose — to win a state team title.

“If we all make the cut, we have a really good shot,” senior Rhett Levin said.

The first group of players tee off at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. The second round is Wednesday.

With Meadow Springs being their home course, the Bombers should feel right at home. But then again, anyone can have a bad day.

“It can be nice, but it also puts pressure on them that they have to do well,” said Richland coach John Richardson, who is in his 21st year with the Bombers. “They are comfortable here, but they still have to play their game.”

Junior Carl Underwood dominated the field in the Mid-Columbia Conference this spring, winning three of the six conference pods, as well as the district title for the second year in a row.

Underwood will be joined at state by Levin, senior Evan Hattori and sophomore Shane Amidan. Senior Nick Yamauchi is an alternate.

The Bombers gobbled up four of five state berths at districts. Walla Walla’s Alex Johanson earned the other.

Underwood, the MCC MVP, is making his third state appearance. He tied for 10th last year with a 143, and he did not make the cut for the second round as a freshman in 2014.

“Since it’s our home course, I have an advantage with the greens knowing where the ball will land,” said Underwood, who along with Levin and Yamauchi works at the golf course on the weekends. “I don’t miss a lot of greens, and I have a lot of pars.”

Richardson said Underwood is on a pretty even keel on the course, which helps him stay focused.

“He can get miffed at himself on a hole, but he’s able to shake it off,” Richardson said.

Levin is the same, but he has a playlist of favorites to help get him back in the game.

“They are going to have bad shots, but they recover well,” Richardson said.

3A boys

Led by district champ Bolton Dauenhauer, Kamiakin ran away with the district title and grabbed two of the five state berths.

Dauenhauer is making his third trip to state. He finished 23rd last year with a 158, and he did not make the cut for the second round as a sophomore in 2014.

McGwire Hanson will join Dauenhauer at state after placing second at districts.

Hanford also has two going to state — Gabe Cach and Max LaViolette — while Southridge rounds out the Mid-Columbia Conference contingent at Creek at Qualchan in Spokane with Riley White.

4A girls

Three-time district champion Jalayne Martinez of Pasco is making her fourth trip to state.

Martinez ran away with the district title, shooting a 140. She will be joined at state — which is at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco — by her younger sister, Maylie.

Jalayne Martinez finished seventh at state last year with a 154, and she tied for 17th as a sophomore with a 169 as the Bulldogs placed third as a team.

Richland will send a contingent of three to Sun Willows, led by Macy Robertson, who was second at districts. Joining her will be Danika Palm and Breanna Watts.

3A girls

Kamiakin was in the middle of a practice round Monday at Indian Canyon Golf Course in Spokane when the rain started to fall.

Not a big deal for the Braves, who have weathered the wind and rain in the Tri-Cities this spring.

Junior Alexa Clark leads a trio of Braves, who finished second in the team race last year. Clark finished third overall with a two-day 152.

Clark, who won the MCC district title last week, is joined at state by seniors Brianna Esvelt and Shavon Madder.

“It’s neat for the girls to get to come up here and play,” Kamiakin coach Eric Gough said. “The top end of the 3A girls is very competitive. Southridge has two girls (sophomore Samantha Hui and freshman Therese Warner) who are really competitive. We aren’t going to worry about anyone but ourselves. As long as we play well, the rest will take care of itself.”

Hui, who was fourth at state last year with a 153, will have company in Warner, who was second at districts this season, and senior Meredith Hibbard, who is making her first trip to state.

Small schools

The 2A boys tee off Tuesday at Horn Rapids, while the girls are at Columbia Point Golf Course.

The 1A boys and girls will play at Liberty Lake Golf Course in Spokane, while the 1B/2B boys and girls will be at MeadowWood Golf Course in Spokane.

This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 10:11 PM with the headline "Richland boys have sights set on a 4A state golf title."