Salem Academy's girls golf team looked every bit like the two-time reigning 4A/3A/2A/1A champion in the Banks Invitational at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club on April 1.
The Crusaders not only dominated the 12-team field to win by 35 strokes, but juniors Ellie Gladow and Chloe Johnston shared medalist honors with Catlin Gabel senior Vishaka Priyan, last year's runaway state champion.
Gladow, Johnston and Priyan each shot 6-over-par 77 on the Ghost Creek course at Pumpkin Ridge. In last year's state tournament, Priyan beat runner-up Johnston by 11 strokes, with Gladow taking third place, 20 strokes back.
“Both girls really want to be able to play with her in the same group,” Salem Academy coach Melissa Turner said. “I think they know they can compete with her. It was exciting to be in the same tournament this early in the season with the defending champ.”
Gladow, Johnston, junior Sloane James (fourth at 80) and senior Alexandrea Willcoxen (tied for 10th at 93) combined for a winning team score of 327. Camas (Wash.) was second at 362, followed by Catlin Gabel (400) and Seaside (425).
The round was a personal-best for James, who tied for 16th at state last year. She was in position to break 80 but had a double-bogey on the final hole.
“She's so close to breaking into the 70s,” Turner said of James.
Johnston, coming off surgery on her right shoulder in the fall, is about six weeks ahead of schedule in her recovery, according to Turner. She shot a 73 in the team's season opener at Creekside Golf Club on March 30 to lead Salem Academy to an easy win in a Special District 3 tournament.
“She had to go back to her basic swing, starting with a half-swing, and working from there,” Turner said. “It's really helped her.”
Returning its entire lineup from a team that won the state tournament by 30 strokes last season, Salem Academy is a heavy favorite to three-peat. It would be a big achievement, but Turner isn't pushing it with her players.
“I didn't say much about it last year because I didn't want to put that pressure on them,” Turner said. “I think if I phrased it that way, they'd get in their heads too much.
“We try to keep an easygoing, laid-back attitude when they compete. I feel like mentally they do better that way. They don't put as much pressure on themselves. They just go play and enjoy themselves.”
The early results are encouraging.
“I feel like they all picked up where they left off at the end of last year,” Turner said. “They're really in a good head space of going out and enjoying playing. When they get on the golf course, it's like they never left.”
With Johnston, Gladow and James are eligible to return next season, Salem Academy could be going for a fourth consecutive state title. They could join seven other schools to win at least four in a row in state history.
Lack of depth could throw a wrench in that pursuit, however. The Crusaders don't have a No. 5 golfer in their lineup this year, and with Willcoxen graduating, they don't have a No. 4 in the pipeline for next season.
They have learned to play with a narrow margin for error.
“Every tournament, we're out there like, 'All right, girls, know the rules, because if you get disqualified, we're out,'” Turner said.
Udom dominates Metro
Westview junior Melinee Udom, the reigning 6A champion, shot a 5-under 67 to cruise to an easy win in a Metro League tournament March 31 at Chehalem Glenn Golf Course.
Udom carded nine birdies and four bogeys during her round to win by eight strokes over Mountainside junior Kristine Shin (75). Jesuit freshman Lola McCoy-Hansen (79) and junior Amelia Kim (80) were next.
Jesuit outscored Mountainside 326-332 for first place. Sunset was third at 346.
Notes: Roseburg sophomore Lana Silvestri, who placed third at state last season, fired a 2-over 76 to run away with medalist honors in the four-team Grants Pass Invitational on March 30 at Grants Pass Golf Club. … Bend freshman Taylor Struble shot a 4-over 76 to beat Summit freshman Addison Lair by five strokes to win the nine-team Desert Brawl at Juniper Golf Club on March 31. Two days later, in an Intermountain Conference tournament at Meadow Lakes Golf Club, Lair finished second by five strokes to sophomore teammate Sophi Hasselblad (6-over 78). … Clackamas junior Jessi Tantog made four birdies on her way to a 3-over 75, giving her a three-stroke win over Central Catholic sophomore Berkley Beam in a Mt. Hood Conference tournament April 1 at Gresham Golf Club. … Dufur senior Tygh Timinsky finished at 6-over 78 to win the Umatilla Invite at Big River Golf Course on Friday.
jerryu@osaa.org
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