Summit's boys golf team was well on its way to a fourth consecutive state championship last year when it led the 5A tournament by four strokes after one round.
On the second day, though, the wheels came off for the Storm. Summit followed a first-round 308 with a second-round 327 and finished runner-up to Corvallis by nine strokes.
“I've never seen all five guys struggle at once,” Summit coach Andy Heinly said. “It was weird. Everybody looked uptight. Nobody could get it together. It was just bizarre.”
Led by junior Bryden Ditty and senior Bryce Grieb – who placed second and sixth, respectively, at state last year – the Storm is looking for redemption this season.
“Oh yeah, especially with Bryce and Bryden,” Heinly said. “That stung last year.”
So far, Summit is looking like a powerhouse. The Storm has dominated its three 5A Intermountain Conference tournaments, including two impressive performances last week when it shot 2-over 290 at Juniper Golf Club on Wednesday and 7-over 295 at Broken Top Golf Club on Friday.
At Juniper, Grieb was the medalist at 1-under 71, Ditty was second at 72 and sophomore Grant Schroeder tied for third at 73. The team's two promising freshmen also delivered, with Myles Langford shooting 74 and Wes Smelser firing a 78.
At Broken Top, Grieb and Langford each shot 73 to finish one stroke behind Bend senior Silas Waller. Ditty was fourth (74), Schroeder fifth (75) and Smelser eighth (76).
“We've got some good senior leadership and three really young kids that are playing great,” Heinly said. “This early in the year, as solid as they're playing, it's very encouraging. We've got some really good depth again.”
Heinly said it is one of his better teams.
“Not as good as 2022, but still good,” said Heinly, referring to the team that shot a state-tournament record 16-under to win the 6A title by 39 strokes. “I expect to be under par at one point during the year.”
It all starts with Grieb and Ditty, players that Heinly said “are as good as anybody in the state.”
Grieb, whose brother Brody won the 6A individual title in 2022 and now plays at Trinity University (Texas), should be in the hunt for the 5A title before heading off to a college career at Utah State. He has added power to his game after growing about three inches from last year, now standing 6-foot-3.
“He's adapted to it really well. He's taken it up a notch,” Heinly said of Grieb, who tied for second in the state tournament as a sophomore. “He's strong and he understands his swing well. His worst scores are going to be even-par or one over. He'll be under par multiple times this year.”
Ditty tied for ninth at state as a freshman before finishing runner-up to Canby's Connor Holden by five strokes last year,
“He's probably got the most raw talent than I've had in a while, but he's just kind of figuring out how to keep his emotions intact, and being able to score,” Heinly said.
Heinly knew that with the addition of Langford and Smelser, and the continued improvement of Schroeder, that Summit would be able to compensate for the graduation of Paola Delia and Rooks Maxwell. He called Langford, who was tied for the lead Friday before three-putting on the final hole, “a par machine.”
The young players grew up watching Summit win state championships.
“They know what our program expects, and they want to be a part of that,” Heinly said. “They've told me, 'Coach, I think we can do two or three of these.' I wouldn't argue.”
Notes: Lincoln sophomore Mateo Gramstad recorded an eagle and seven birdies on his way to a 5-under 67 in winning a Portland Interscholastic League tournament at Rose City Golf Club on Thursday. … Bandon junior Sevren Quinn picked up another win Wednesday in the Marshfield Invitational at Emerald Valley Golf Club when he shot a 2-under 70 to finish three strokes ahead of Bandon sophomore Jackson Simonds, Madras senior Tate Alire and Douglas sophomore Wyatt Winters. Bandon won the 15-team event, outscoring runner-up South Medford 312-324. …
Alire was coming off a win Tuesday in a 4A Tri-Valley Conference tournament at Desert Peaks Golf Club in Madras. He shot an even-par 72 to win by five strokes over Estacada senior Peter Winklepleck, helping his team outscore Estacada 314-347 for first place. … On Wednesday, Burns senior Coltin Miller carded an eagle on the 455-yard, par-five fifth hole at Valley Golf Club in Hines during his winning round of 4-under 68 in a tournament against Ontario, Vale and Nyssa. …
Canby sophomore Connor Holden, the reigning 5A champion, shot a 3-under 69 to take medalist honors in a Northwest Oregon Conference tournament April 6 at Willamette Valley Country Club. His score propelled Canby (321) to first place over La Salle Prep (330). … Grants Pass dominated the nine-team Willamette Invitational on April 6 at Shadow Hills Golf Club behind the top two finishers, junior Brevik Hill (2-under 70) and senior Carson Krauss (71). The Cavemen's total of 309 won by 20 strokes over Sheldon. …
Westview (301) edged Jesuit (302) by one stroke in a Metro League tournament April 6 at Langdon Farms Golf Club. Wildcats senior Kenton Docktor's winning score of even-par 71 was the difference, edging Jesuit freshman Oscar Vinson and Mountainside junior Cisse Noriyasu by one stroke. … Barlow sophomore Cole Morgan won a Mt. Hood Conference tournament at Arrowhead Golf Club on April 6 by shooting a 2-under 69, beating Nelson freshman Derek Shriver by six strokes. Central Catholic (309) topped Nelson (312) for first place.
jerryu@osaa.org
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