Propelled by their convincing victory over Lakewood on Wednesday, the Falcon boys golfers are ready to take on all comers as league play begins.

And they think they’ve got the right momentum after the 717-496 win at Useless Bay Golf Club.

“The key is to peak at just the right time, like now,” said South Whidbey’s Brooks Guetlin.

Against the Cougars, Guetlin medaled in first place with 78, Perry Cooley had 81, Harrison Price 83, Shane Thompson 84 and Josh Yingling 91.

Guetlin thinks he’s playing close to his best game.

“I’ve worked hard on my putting stroke after a slump a few weeks ago,” he said.

“The distance between the ball and the hole is getting less with each day, even when it’s wet, rainy and cold like against Lakewood.”

Cascade Conference playoffs begin Monday at Snohomish Golf Club. This season, the Falcons (7-3) dropped two close back-to-back losses to King’s.

The Knights are in first and South Whidbey is tied with Archbishop Murphy.

“They are very good, but not better than our guys,” said Falcon coach Steve Jones.

“We have to break 400 as a team and, provided we play as well as we know how, we can do it. Both teams are playing with confidence and both have high expectations.”

Jones explained that league records don’t matter when it comes to the championship, which the Falcons have won the past two years.

“A team can be 0-11 but, if they have a really good day, they can take it,” he said. “Theoretically, of course.”

Jones teaches that it isn’t so much how you get to the green as what you do upon arrival. On a par-5 hole, it should take three shots to get on the green, two to make the cup.

“A 200-yard drive can be just as effective as one a hundred yards longer,” Jones said.

That’s the theory, anyway. And, like most theories, easier said than done, though in Cooley’s case, it’s paying dividends.

“My putts are sinking more now for three reasons; a new putter, a ton of practice and the coach has helped me groove my putting stroke a bit,” he noted. “It really is a game of inches.”

Another reason for Jones’ confidence is the team’s performance Monday, May 4 at the Tom Dolan Memorial Invitational.

“Of the 21 schools at the par-72 Everett Golf Club, only two —ourselves and Sultan — were rated 2A,” Jones said. “Everyone else was a big 4A school, and we finished in ninth place. It’s a highly competitive event; we were a scant 10 strokes away from third.”

Guetlin had 77, Yingling 82, Thompson and Cooley 84 and Lincoln Hawthorne 88.

Jones is pleased with the team’s performance this season.

“They are a diverse group of wonderful young men who share a common goal: to improve their individual skills which will ultimately benefit the team as a whole,” he said.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or sports@southwhidbeyrecord.com.