South Whidbey finished second at a three-team match Monday afternoon at Useless Bay Golf and Country Club.

Playing against class 3A teams Marysville-Pilchuck and Shorewood, the Falcons were edged out from finishing first by five strokes during the 18-hole round. Marysville-Pilchuck won the match with a score of 455.

The Falcons are 7-5 overall and sit at third place in the class 1A Cascade Conference standings behind Sultan and Cedar Park Christian.

Falcon junior Anton Klein, who tied for 14th at the class 1A state championships in 2015, finished first overall in the match with a score of 79. Klein’s solid round wasn’t without luck. One of his shots on hole four landed left of the cart path and out of bounds, but it fortunately bounced back in to play. He finished the hole with a par, though he barely missed an opportunity for a birdie.

“I’ve been pretty lucky today,” Klein said.

Junior Thorin Helmersen, a returning state participant, finished second on the team and third overall with an 85. He recorded his second eagle of the season on the seventh hole, which is a par five. He began the hole with a 300-yard drive, which helped propel him to his strong finish.

“I think my long game’s been better than my short game,” Helmersen said. “I just have to work on the putting.”

Falcon junior Ian Saunsaucie and junior Ryan Wenzek tied by finishing with a 95.

Head coach Steve Jones said the team is working on refining its skills and minimizing costly errors.

“The recipe for success with this team is simple, keep the ball in play and improve their chipping and putting,” Jones said in an email.

The Falcon squad is currently without a senior, and will look to its 12 underclassmen to carry the team in the future.

“They have the potential to become a force in the Cascade Conference if they dedicate time to improving their golf skills in the off season,” Jones said.