No question, the main focus for Crosspoint Christian senior Davis Hartwell this spring is to win a third consecutive 3A/2A/1A boys golf title, which would make him the fifth three-time champion in state history.
For the first time in his high school career, though, Hartwell is double-dipping in the spring, joining the baseball team as a pitcher and outfielder. It's the first time he has played baseball since kindergarten.
“Baseball has always been fun to me, I just never thought of playing it because it kind of messes with the golf schedule,” he said. “And swinging a bat and swinging a golf club is very different. One could mess up the other.”
So far, baseball has had no ill effects on his golf game. The Oregon State-bound Hartwell has been under par in all four of his high school matches, including a 9-under 63 in his most recent round, the Phoenix Invitational at Centennial Golf Club in Medford on April 22.
“I'm playing super solid this year,” said Hartwell, who has a 67.5 scoring average. “I'm super consistent. My driver's been the best it's ever been. My putting is really good. I've just kept it in play, and I'm not getting myself into trouble. I think that comes with maturity, being a senior and learning from my past experiences. My course management is so much better.”
Crosspoint Christian coach Curtis Waite said Hartwell “just keeps getting more consistent” with his game.
“He can hit the ball farther than anyone, and he never sprays them,” Waite said. “And he's grown. His freshman year, it didn't look like he could do a push-up if people helped him, and now, he's filling out a little. He's still got a lot to go, too. I just look forward to seeing what Oregon State does for him.”
On Monday, Hartwell played in a US Open qualifier at Hidden Valley Country Club in Reno, Nev. Despite struggling to 3-over on the front nine, he finished at even-par 72 and came within three strokes of making a playoff.
“Davis gets hot, he can play with anyone,” Waite said.
The tournament showed Hartwell's progress from the last two years, when he was far off the pace in US Open qualifiers.
“The first couple holes, I think I just put way too much pressure on myself,” Hartwell said. “The rest of the round I kind of just played freely. It's a good test to see where my game's at compared to better players at the beginning of the year.”
Hartwell entered the golf season after helping lead Crosspoint Christian to fourth place in the 1A basketball tournament. The 6-foot-2 shooting guard averaged 15 points per game.
“He can knock down three-pointers like no one's business, and he plays good defense,” Waite said. “If he focused on basketball, he might have a shot at that.”
Hartwell savored his final basketball season.
“Being a senior and it being my last year of playing basketball, it just meant a lot to be able to play more games and get to spend more time as a team, at the state tournament,” he said.
In a typical week, Hartwell has golf tournaments on Mondays and Wednesdays and baseball games on Tuesdays and Fridays. He has helped contribute to Crosspoint Christian's 10-6 record in baseball, batting .300 (6 for 20) with nine RBIs and pitching 3 2/3 innings, allowing two hits, one earned run and fanning five.
“Just having good hand-eye coordination and sports IQ, it's kind of easy to get comfortable with after a few games or practices,” he said of playing baseball.
Hartwell opened the golf season by finishing second by one stroke in back-to-back tournaments. Bandon junior Sevren Quinn, his district and state rival, birdied the final hole to edge Hartwell at Centennial Golf Club on March 30. Grants Pass senior Carson Krauss beat Hartwell to win the Eugene Country Club Invitational on April 13.
Hartwell bounced back by winning the Marshfield Invitational at Running Y Ranch Resort on April 20, shooting a 4-under 68 to beat Bandon junior Braedon Millhouser (70) and Quinn (76), then cruised to a victory with his 63 in the Phoenix Invitational, missing the course record by one stroke.
Hartwell and Quinn have a history of tight battles. Last year, Quinn defeated Hartwell by one stroke for the district title and Hartwell topped Quinn by one stroke at state.
“We definitely go back and forth,” Hartwell said. “That will probably be the state competition this year, me and Sevren. It's definitely quite the rivalry. We're pretty good friends, so it's kind of fun to go back and forth.”
Highlights from the past week:
Canby sophomore Connor Holden, the reigning 5A champion, shot a 7-under 65 to win by eight strokes in the Spartan Invitational at Tokatee Golf Club on April 22. Holden made an eagle and five birdies to lead Canby to first place in the 10-team tournament. … Canby outscored La Salle Prep 320-322 to win a 5A Northwest Oregon Conference tournament at Heron Lakes Golf Course on Tuesday. La Salle Prep junior Matthew Martin was the medalist at 2-under 70, five strokes ahead of Canby junior Mason Debruyn. ...
Seaside senior Xanh Quang carded six birdies on his way to a 6-under 66 and a nine-stroke victory in the 15-tean Seaside Invitational at Astoria Golf & Country Club on Monday. Camas (Wash.) shot 304 to beat Seaside (317) for first place. … Grants Pass senior Carson Krauss won the Medford Invitational at Centennial Golf Club on Monday with a 4-under 68, beating Sheldon senior Cooper Beban (71) and South Medford senior Hudson Blackwell (73). Grants Pass (294) and South Medford (302) were the top teams. … Westview senior Alex Yang shot an even-par 72 to beat Jesuit junior Will Burke and Mountainside junior Cisse Noriyasu by one stroke for first place in a 6A Metro League tournament Monday at Portland Golf Club. Westview (303) and Jesuit (306) were the top teams. …
Summit finished with a 7-over 295 to dominate the La Pine Invite on Monday at Quail Run Golf Club. The Storm had the top three placers in seniors Bryce Grieb (3-under 69) and Jack Mitchell (75) and freshman Myles Langford (75). Summit's No. 4 finisher, junior Bryden Ditty, tied for fourth place with Bend senior Silas Waller at 76. … Baker won the Baker Invitational at Quail Ridge Golf Course on Monday behind senior Elias Long, who placed first at 2-under 68. Baker's team score of 329 was 12 strokes better than Pendleton and Burns. …
Lake Oswego senior Drew Woolworth, the two-time reigning 6A champion, won a Three Rivers League tournament Monday at Oregon Golf Club by recording a 3-under 69. He beat West Linn seniors Cade McVicker and Luke Sidhu by four strokes. The Lakers shot 12-over 300 to finish first, beating West Linn (305) and Lakeridge (326). … Sherwood cruised to victory in a 6A Pacific Conference tournament on the Ghost Creek course at Pumpkin Ridge on Monday, finishing with an 8-over 292. Bowmen senior Tiger Lu and sophomore Hudson O'Connell shared medalist honors at 3-under 68.
jerryu@osaa.org
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