After missing the 6A tournament last season, West Linn's boys golf team had the entire offseason to think about the disappointing finish.
Monday, the Lions made a statement in their first tournament of the season, winning the prestigious Canby Invitational at Willamette Valley Country Club. The Lions shot 21-over-par 309 to beat Three Rivers League rival and reigning state champion Lake Oswego (314) by five strokes in the 20-team event.
“I feel like we're still growing as a team, but a win's a win, and we're excited to start the season that way,” West Linn coach Adam Edwards said.
Lions senior Cade Mc Vicker claimed medalist honors with a 2-under 70 that included an eagle on the 535-yard, par-five second hole. He beat out Clackamas senior David Lim (71), Lake Oswego senior Drew Woolworth (73), Seaside senior Xanh Quang (73), Canby sophomore Connor Holden (74) and Beaverton senior Noah Hackett (74).
The field was stacked. Last year, Woolworth repeated as 6A champion, Holden was 5A champion and Quang took third place in the 4A tournament, leading Seaside to the team title.
West Linn's scoring included McVicker and seniors Luke Sidhu (79), Grady Kane (80), Cade Lee (80) and Coby MacGlashan (80). The performance was enough to win Monday, but Edwards said the Lions missed many good scoring opportunities on the sunny, warm day in Canby.
“We had some ups and downs,” Edwards said. “They should be down lower, and they all know that. Putting was our nemesis. We couldn't put the ball in the hole on the green. That's what killed us.”
The early win over Lake Oswego was “fantastic,” according to Edwards.
“We're going to be battling them all season,” he said. “They're a great team, great coach, great players. It's going to be a grind all season with us and them. And Lakeridge is pretty good, too.”
After the Lions and Lakers, Central Catholic finished third at 318, followed by Jesuit (324), Nelson (325), Clackamas (326) and Sheldon (326).
For McVicker, topping league rival Woolworth is a confidence booster. McVicker finished fourth at state last year and ninth as a sophomore.
“To come in and beat No. 1 is a great way to start it off,” Edwards said. “He had a huge smile on his face as he walked off. The team celebrated with him. He was just in a groove for most of the day. He had a rough hole on No. 14 – which I think everybody did – but for the most part, he was just dialed.”
McVicker, committed to Seattle University, was named the OGA Junior Player of the Year for 2025. He won titles in the 57th Eddie Hogan Cup Team Matches and Bob Norquist Oregon Junior Amateur and made the semifinals of the PNGA Junior Boys Amateur.
“Expectations are pretty high for him,” Edwards said. “He's going to be one of the top players in the league. He's up against Drew, but he's right there with him. He doesn't give up. He's a huge competitor.”
McVicker and Lee (committed to College of the Redwoods) were among the Lions working hard on their games in the offseason. The team also got a boost with the addition of Sidhu, a transfer from Wilsonville, where he tied for second in the 5A tournament in 2024 and placed third last year.
West Linn hopes to erase the disappointment of last year.
“We were neck-and-neck with Lake Oswego the whole season,” Edwards said. “District tournament, we kind of struggled, and we went to regionals and we had one bad day.”
Metro League
The 6A Metro League got started this week with tournaments at Rock Creek Country Club on Monday for the girls and Tuesday for the boys.
Westview junior Melinee Udom, the reigning 6A champion, recorded six birdies in shooting a 3-under 69 to finish first in girls play. Jesuit freshman Lola McCoy-Hansen (77), Jesuit junior Milla Patel (78) and Mountainside junior Kristine Shen (79) were next.
Jesuit's score of 320 easily defeated Sunset (344) and Mountainside (350) for first place.
Westview senior Alex Yang fired a 69 to beat Jesuit junior Cameron Fagan (70) by one stroke in boys play. Mountainside juniors Kai Hang and Cisse Noriyasu tied for third at 71.
Westview (302) led the team scoring over Mountainside (306) and Jesuit (315).
Marshfield Invitational
Eagle Point junior Jordan Giles, the 4A boys champion for Phoenix in 2024, opened the season Monday by tying Douglas sophomore Wyatt Winters for medalist honors in the Marshfield Invitational on the Old Mac course at Bandon Dunes.
Giles and Winters each shot even-par 71. Marshfield senior Enoch Niblett took third place at 74 and South Medford sophomore Hudson Hackwell was fourth at 75.
South Medford outscored Eagle Point 308-322 for first place.
jerryu@osaa.org
Subscribe
