It has taken a few tournaments, but it appears that Catlin Gabel senior girls golfer Vishaka Priyan is rounding into state-championship form.
Priyan, who set a 4A/3A/2A/1A tournament record last year when she shot 6-under to win by 11 strokes, fired a 2-under 70 in her most recent match April 23 at Wildwood Golf Course in Portland. She has made steady improvement after carding 77, 74 and 71 in her first three rounds this season.
She is building momentum heading into the Special District 2 tournament Monday at Arrowhead Golf Club in Molalla. The state tournament is May 18 and 19 at Eagle Crest Resort Course in Redmond.
“It always takes her a little while to warm up, “ coach Alexis O'Brien said. “At districts, she'll be relaxed and see where she's at, and then she'll try to go even lower when she gets to the state tournament. It takes throughout the season to feel like in her mind that she can make everything.”
Priyan put on a putting clinic in the state tournament at Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis last year. She recorded 11 birdies in shooting rounds of 67 and 69, her total of 136 beating Salem Academy's Chloe Johnston by 11 strokes.
The performance was a stark contrast from the 2024 state tournament, when she shot 12-over 156 to finish as runner-up by six strokes to Valley Catholic's Madeleine Conser at Tokatee Golf Club.
“In previous years, she just wasn't mentally ready,” O'Brien said. “In regular-season tournaments last year, she got used to shooting under par. Come the state tournament, she was so relaxed. It was part of her round. It was more normal. Her putting was really strong. She made everything.”
Priyan consistently hits greens in regulations, setting up waves of birdie opportunities.
“If she makes some putts, she can shoot 66,” O'Brien said. “But if she's not making any putts, she'll shoot 70, 72. She's not happy if she shoots par if she hits so many greens in regulation. She has a birdie putt almost every hole.”
Salem Academy's Johnston and Ellie Gladow, juniors who have led the Crusaders to team titles the last two years, are among the players expected to contend with Priyan at state. Johnston and Gladow tied Priyan at 6-over 77 for medalist honors in the Banks Invitational on April 1 on the Ghost Creek course at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.
“She knows that there are players, if she doesn't play well, that could beat her,” O'Brien said. “But she has this mindset that she's going to play well. … She knows how low she can go.”
Course management is a strength for Priyan. Her physical skills are similar to last year, but as her game matures, she continues to make better decisions, according to O'Brien.
That will suit her well as she pursues a college career at Emory University, an NCAA Division III program in Georgia. O'Brien, who played in college at New Orleans and spent 11 years as an NCAA Division I head coach at Chicago State and Southern Illinois, believes Priyan is set up for future success.
“Even though she has the ability to play on the Division I level, she wants to be able to balance athletics and academics, so that's a better fit for her,” O'Brien said. “She'll be really strong on the Division III level.”
Notes:
Boys
Westview emerged on top of the 6A State Preview on April 30 on the state-tournament course at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell. The Wildcats shot 22-over 310 to finish ahead of Sherwood (313) and Sheldon (316) in the 17-team tournament. Westview senior Jake Rodgers tied for medalist honors with Mountainside junior Cisse Noriyasu and Sherwood senior Tiger Lu at even-par 72. Westview senior Alex Yang was next at 73. … Westview came back Tuesday to record a 7-over 291 in winning a Metro League tournament at Pumpkin Ridge. Noriyasu shot 3-under 68 to beat Yang (69) and Rodgers (70) for first place. … Summit combined to shoot 8-under 280 in the 5A Intermountain Conference championship Monday at Quail Run Golf Club. The Storm finished 1-2-3-4 in senior Bryce Grieb (8-under 64), junior Bryden Ditty (69), freshman Myles Langford (72) and sophomore Grant Schroeder (75). …
West Linn senior Luke Sidhu won the 6A Three Rivers League district tournament Monday at Stone Creek Golf Club with a 7-under 65, beating Lake Oswego senior Drew Woolworth, the two-time reigning state champion, by one stroke. … Grants Pass senior Carson Krauss finished at 5-under 139 to take the Southwest Conference district tournament this week at Bandon Crossings. … Columbia River of Vancouver beat out its Oregon competition to win the 4A State Preview tournament on April 29 at Emerald Valley. Columbia River's score of 319 topped Marist Catholic (324) and St. Helens (343) in the 15-team event. The leading individuals were Columbia River senior Luke Potter (73), Madras senior Tate Alire (75), Marist Catholic junior CJ Jones (78), Columbia River junior Carsyn Howard (78) and Seaside senior Xanh Quang (78).
Girls
Westview junior Melinee Udom, the reigning 6A champion, shot a 3-under 68 to win a Metro League tournament Tuesday at Pumpkin Ridge. In her six league tournaments this season, the Brigham Young-bound Udom has a scoring average of 68.5. … Lake Oswego senior Hailey Lim and Lakeridge sophomore Hannah Wendorf tied for first place in the 6A Three Rivers League district tournament Monday at Stone Creek, each shooting 1-under 71. … Cleveland senior Kate Ly was the medalist at the 6A Portland Interscholastic League tournament Monday at Heron Lakes at 7-under 65. … Clackamas junior Jessi Tantog shot 4-under 68 to capture the 6A Mt. Hood Conference district tournament Monday at Stone Creek. … Roseburg sophomore Lana Silvestri topped the leader board at 2-under 70 in the 6A Southwest Conference tournament Monday at Bandon Crossings.
jerryu@osaa.org
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