South Whidbey boys golf drops first two meets, both to King’s

King’s appears as if it will rule South Whidbey this season.

King’s appears as if it will rule South Whidbey this season.

The two 1A programs and Cascade Conference rivals faced each other in boys golf twice in the past five days, with the Knights winning both meets.

Monday, King’s bested South Whidbey by 16 strokes, 329 to 345. And at South Whidbey’s home course, Useless Bay Golf and Country Club, the Falcons finished last in a three-way meet with Sultan, which scored 342 strokes.

South Whidbey’s top golfers were Derrick Riley, 66; Daniel Caron, 67; Jon Rasmussen, 70; Jordan Hoch, 71; and Zac Kelley, 71.

Last week March 14 at Jackson Park, King’s won the nine-hole meet with a 21-stroke lead, 229 to South Whidbey’s 250.

In both teams’ first meet of the Cascade Conference season, Jack O’Neil led the way with 42 strokes. Hoch was the top scorer for South Whidbey with 44 at third place overall, followed by Riley’s 50 strokes for seventh place. The final three varsity scorers for the Falcons were tied four ways for eighth place, Rasmussen, Kelley and Chase Collins, each with 52 strokes.

Evan Merculief, one of South Whidbey’s expected varsity golfers who played varsity last season, missed both meets because of an injury. Coaches expect him to return in the next few weeks.