Golfers hit course hard

Though harried by wind, rain and past state champions, the Falcon girls pulled off two golf victories this week and watched another slip away by just a pencil line.

One of just a few South Whidbey High School teams who braved snow and rain over the past few days, the golfers showed why they may be the best team in the North Cascades Conference this year. At Holmes Harbor Golf Course Tuesday, the Falcons’ front five outshot 2001 state champion Mount Baker by almost 90 strokes in miserably wet weather.

Led by Taryn Langlois, who was the medalist on the day with a score of 37, six South Whidbey girls negotiated the course with comparable ease. Even Falcon Jessica Johnson, who had the team’s high score with a 53, finished ahead of Mount Baker’s best linker, who trailed with a 54.

Falcon Coach Tom Sage said he was not completely surprised by his team’s dominance. Mount Baker lost two state-placing seniors — Anna George and Candace Roosma — to graduation last year and did not return to the course as the same team.

Though scores were higher than average Wednesday — Langlois excepted — Sage said course conditions made the difference.

“Everything about that match was difficult,” he said.

With the sun back in the sky Thursday, the Falcons traveled to Monroe’s Echo Falls Golf Course to pick on two teams that are bigger than their own size. In an 18-hole, Stableford scored matchup against 3A Monroe and 4A Oak Harbor, the Falcons were able to out-muscle the Bearcats and come within one fouled scorecard of a tie with the Wildcats.

Langlois again led the team, shooting a 49 for her round. She got there by hitting five pars in a row at one point. Jessica Johnson hit two pars in a row on her way to a 32. However, at one point, she was inadvertently credited with a bogie on a hole she parred, which cost the Falcons the meet by one stroke. Oak Harbor won the meet with 210 points compared the Falcons’ 209.

Sage said he was pleased to see how close his team can stay with those from bigger schools.

“It just shows how much depth we have,” he said.

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