Two-time reigning 5A girls golf champion Francesca Tomp of North Eugene secured her spot in the upcoming state tournament with a win in the Midwestern League district tournament this week.
The junior finished at 8-over par 152 to win by six strokes over her league rival, Thurston senior Olivia Grandberry, in the two-day event at Tokatee Golf Club on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“She was hitting the ball fine. She struggled a little bit putting,” North Eugene coach Shawn Brandt said of Tomp. “When you're trying to shoot par or better, it all comes down to putting for her.”
Tomp held a three-stroke lead over Grandberry after the first round, bouncing back from a double-bogey on No. 2 with an eagle on No. 3. She was able to keep Grandberry at bay in Wednesday's second round.
Tomp and Grandberry have dueled throughout the season. Tomp defeated Grandberry by two strokes to win the Siuslaw Invitational at Florence Golf Links on March 14, and Grandberry came back four days later to defeat Tomp by five strokes in a league tournament at Bar Run in Roseburg.
Tomp won a league tournament April 8 at Shadow Hills, beating Marist Catholic senior Esha Reddy by two strokes and Grandberry by eight strokes. Tomp's other victory this season came in the Eugene Country Club Invitational on April 15, when she shot a season-best 68.
Tomp's lowest finish this season was April 11, when she shot a 78 to finish fourth in the Cottage Grove Invitational at Emerald Valley, placing fourth behind Reddy (71), Sheldon senior Jill Potter (76) and Bandon senior Cassie Kennon (77).
Tomp has a chance to become the second four-time state champion, joining Summit's Madison Odiorne (2012-15). Brandt said for Tomp to win another title, it's going to come down to “small details.”
“She's just trying to find her game and keep it consistent,” Brandt said. “For her, it's more managing herself, her emotions. It's not so much the technical side of golf for her at this point.
“Sometimes that can be the hardest thing – expectations, disappointment. Just trying to keep her balanced and positive and having fun. That's what I try to encourage for her the most.”
Tomp's performance this week helped lead North Eugene to the district team title. The Highlanders shot 770 to finish far ahead of runner-up Crater (830).
North Eugene senior Else Langan fimished third at 185. The team's other scorers were freshman Sydney Nelson (209), junior Makenna Hobbs (second-round 109) and sophomore Emma Broders (first-round 115).
The Highlanders finished seventh at state last year, but with the addition of Nelson and Broders, they are aiming higher this year.
“I think we have a chance to get fourth place, get a trophy,” Brandt said. “The program keeps building. Next year we've got some more girls coming in that have good experience.”
State Preview
The girls 6A/5A State Preview was limited to seven teams Tuesday at Trysting Tree, largely due to scheduling conflicts with district tournaments.
The event traditionally is played on the last Tuesday of April, and with the state tournaments being moved up one week this year, several district tournaments also moved up, creating the conflict.
Washington powerhouse Camas and Jesuit finished first and second, respectively, for the second year in a row. The Papermakers shot 316 to top Jesuit (320), Sunset (321), Wilsonville (338), Mountainside (364), Crescent Valley (423) and Woodburn (427).
Camas senior Jacinda Lee, the tournament's medalist last year, tied Jesuit junior Kate Lee for first place at 71. Camas junior Jasmine Chen (74), Jesuit junior Cecili Hayes (76) and Sunset junior Erika Kobayashi (77) were next.
Jesuit's other scorers were freshmen Milla Patel (78) and Amelia Kim (95).
Sunset's lineup had Kobayashi, freshman Eugene Yi (80) and sophomores Shravya Kumar (82) and Michiru Tsuchiya (100).
PIL qualifying
The 6A Portland Interscholastic League established its automatic state qualifiers after its district finale tournament Tuesday at Heron Lakes.
The Wells boys and Grant girls finished atop the league standings and earned berths in the 6A tournament. The boys individual qualifiers are Lincoln junior Quinn Hefele and Grant senior Emerson Storer. The girls qualifiers are Cleveland sophomore Kate Ly and Wells senior Lucia Donovan.
In Tuesday's boys tournament, Cleveland (319) beat Grant (327) and Wells (329). Hefele shot a 2-under 70 to take medalist honors over Cleveland junior Jack Robertson (74) and Grant senior Charles Papak (76).
Ly dominated the girls tournament with 3-under 69, comfortably ahead of Donovan (82). Grant outscored runner-up Cleveland 378-390 for first place.
