Sammamish High School is home to the 2A boys golf state champion, after Matt Marrese shot 65-68-133, including an ace on number 15 on the first day, to claim the state crown at Chambers Bay.
The Totems’ junior built a six-stroke lead after the first round, and won the tournament by 11 strokes after an equally impressive second day at the home of the 2015 US Open.
“I putted really well both days, and that was the key,” Marrese said. “It’s pretty cool.”
Marrese wasted little time in notching another accomplishment on the golf course, coming back June 1 to win the boys division of the Pacific Northwest Junior PGA Championship at Lake Spanaway Golf Course in Tacoma.
The victory earned Marrese a trip to Texas for the Junior PGA Championship in late July, where he will compete against the champions from the other 41 PGA sections around the country.
Saints take team title, again
Interlake captured its fourth straight team scoring state title, led by the fourth place finish of Grant Cole. The Saints now own the past two 3A championships, to go with 2A crowns in 2011 and 2012.
Cole shot 72-74-146, and finished six strokes behind state champion Spencer Tibbits of Fort Vancouver, while Andy Liu shot 81-71-152 to finish the tournament in eighth place for the Saints.
Interlake finished with 76.5 points, bolstered by Liu’s climb from the cutline, which was 81, to the top-10 in the second day. Bishop Blanchet finished in second with 65.83.
Bellevue’s Chandler Hawk shot a first round 83, missing the cut by two strokes, while teammate Trevor Lohman shot 85.
Colin Joy finished in a tie for 34th with a 81-79-160.
Travis Kay shot a first round 83 for Newport, missing the cut by only three strokes.
Totems’ girls finish in top-five
Sammamish’s girls team found its way into the top five in the team scoring, as Myra Maza and Andie Hood finished 14th and 15th respectively in the 2A girls tournament at The Classic.
Maza shot 93-93-186, while Hood checked in with a 91-96-187. The duo earned a fifth place finish in the team scoring, after five Sammamish golfers finished in second place at the district tournament.
Kendall Gray of Fife shot 79-80-159 to win the individual title, while Bellingham won the team championship.
Interlake senior Aleana Groenhout finished her prep career with a fourth place finish at the 3A girls state tournament at Lewis River, shooting 82-80-162.
Delaney Douglas fired 90-95-185 for the Saints in her second state tournament trip in as many years, while Nhi Nguyen shot a 111 in the first round and missed the cut.
Lauren Patrick was the highest finisher for Bellevue in 14th place, shooting 87-86-173.
Tiffany Huang ended the tournament in a tie for 34th place with a 94-93-187. Rachel Harmeyer shot 97 in the first round and Susie Park shot 103, missing the cut.
Li third for Newport, qualifies for Junior PGA
Marianne Li of Newport tied for the best round of the final day in the 4A girls tournament at Club Green Meadows, shooting 76-75-151 to finish in third place and just three strokes behind state champion Alivia Brown of Bellarmine Prep.
Monica Kent shot a first round 94, Lauren Nakamichi shot 96 and Krystal Liang ended the first round with a 99, as each missed the cut.
Like Marrese, Li also earned a Junior PGA title win at Lake Spanaway, winning the girls tournament by one stroke to earn her spot in the Junior PGA Championship.
