Summit boys golf coach Andy Heinly said his team would be “thinking in the wrong direction” if it got preoccupied with winning a fourth consecutive state title.
With that in mind, he still encourages his players to embrace the high expectations that come with suiting up for the Storm.
“I put that on them from Day 1 because I know their ability,” Heinly said. “There's no reason why we can't think that way from Day 1. I fully expect that we have that ability, and I don't back off from that. I'm not going to pretend that I hope we can.”
Despite graduating two top-five placers in last year's 5A tournament in Owen Harper and Jakob Hansen, Summit once again is in position to push for a state championship. The Storm has clinched the Intermountain Conference title, and after shooting a season-best 298 to win the Central Oregon Invite on April 21 at Bend Golf Club, the team appears to be peaking for the stretch run.
“We're right where I thought we would be,” said Heinly, who guided Summit to the 6A title in 2022 before 5A titles the last two seasons. “We finally broke 300 last week. Everybody's getting a little bit better.”
Junior Bryce Grieb, who finished in a three-way tie for second place at state last year, is leading the charge. Grieb, the brother of 2022 state champion Brody Grieb, has wrapped up the IMC individual title.
“He hasn't been great, but he's been very consistent,” Heinly said of Grieb, who has come on strong lately, averaging 72.0 in his last four rounds after scoring 77.8 in his first four rounds.
Sophomore Bryden Ditty and senior Paolo Delia, top-10 finishers at state last year, are the team's No. 2 and No. 3 scorers at 77.6 and 79.8, respectively. The big-hitting Ditty has flashed his potential with rounds of 72 and 73
“I've said from the beginning that I thought Bryce and Bryden potentially could be vying for the state championship,” Heinly said. “I haven't backed off Bryce at all. Bryden's got all the talent in the world, he's just struggling a little bit, and he's still a little bit young.
“Bryce is a little bit more mature. He thinks a little bit better. He's more in control of his game.”
Delia missed the first four matches while on a trip to South Africa but is making good progress, shooting a 75 in the team's most recent tournament at Bend Golf Club. The Storm's No. 4 player is senior Rooks Maxwell.
“Those four, if they just play the way they can, we'll be in really good shape,” Heinly said.
Summit's only loss to a 5A team this season came in an IMC tournament April 7 at Rivers Edge Golf Course, where Bend edged the Storm by one stroke on a cold, windy day.
Summit's 298 came in a showdown with one of the state's small-school powers, Bandon. The Storm defeated the Tigers by 11 strokes behind Ditty (first-72), Grieb (second-73), Delia (fourth-75) and senior Ryder Grieb (tied for fifth-77).
Summit has had limited exposure to top teams from the bigger schools this season. In the 6A/5A Preview on the OGA Golf Course on April 16, the Storm shot 322 to finish second to 6A Glencoe (306). The next three teams came from 5A: Bend (326), Canby (327) and Mountain View (331).
In that tournament, Bryce Grieb shot a 2-over 74 to finish fourth, three strokes behind the winner, Canby freshman Connor Holden. Ditty (81), Delia (82) and senior Daniel Bateman (85) were Summit's other scorers.
The state tournament course proved challenging for the Storm.
“I've got to convince the guys that it's not a risk-reward golf course,” Heinly said. “They've got to keep everything right out in front of them and not go for things. That's when the doubles and triples start piling up.”
Notes:
Boys
Bandon broke its school record for the second time this season, recording a 6-over 290 to win the 3A/2A/1A State Preview on Tuesday at Trysting Tree Golf Club. The Tigers finished ahead of Columbia River, Wash., (300) and East Linn Christian (306). Bandon sophomore Sevren Quinn and Siuslaw senior Ryan Klampe were co-medalists at 2-under 69. Bandon's other scorers were Peyton Simonds (70), Braedon Millhouser (75) and Jackson Simonds (76). The Tigers entered the season with a school record of 302 before shooting 292 in the Oregon Invitational on March 31 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. …
Metro League teams dominated the 18-team 6A/5A State Preview on April 23 on the OGA Golf Course. Mountainside and Jesuit tied for first place at 305, one stroke ahead of league rival Westview. Jesuit senior Jack Harrington won with a 3-under 69, two strokes ahead of Wilsonville junior Luke Sidhu. … Sidhu won back-to-back tournaments this week. Monday, he shot an even-par 71 in a Northwest Oregon Conference match at Arrowhead Golf Club to beat La Salle Prep's Chase Kimball by three strokes. Tuesday, his even-par 72 was good enough to take the Thurston Invitational at Pine Ridge Golf Club by three strokes over teammate Michael Flaherty. …
Glencoe senior Brody Landaker added to his string of victories by shooting a 2-under 70 in a Pacific Conference tournament at Chehalem Glenn Golf Course on Tuesday. Sherwood's Hudson O'Connell (71) was second and Newberg's Luke Greller (72) and Glencoe's Owen Irving (72) tied for third. Glencoe took first place at 301, ahead of Newberg (303) and Sherwood (306). … Tigard senior Jennings Oelke racked up seven birdies on his way to a 5-under 67 to win a Three Rivers League tournament Monday at Tualatin Country Club. West Linn's Cade McVicker (72) was second. Lake Oswego's Drew Woolworth, the reigning 6A champion, tied for sixth at 75. Tigard shot 298 to turn back West Linn (300), Lakeridge (302) and Lake Oswego (305). … Reynolds senior Mason Ho carded a 3-under 69 on April 24 at Gresham Golf Club to win a Mt. Hood Conference tournament.
Girls
Salem Academy dominated the 4A/3A/2A/1A State Preview at Trysting Tree on Tuesday, firing a 326 to win by 51 strokes over Banks. North Valley senior London Kilborn (79) was medalist, winning by one stroke over Salem Academy's Chloe Johnston and Alexandra Willcoxen. … North Eugene senior Francesca Tomp, the three-time reigning 5A champion, shot a 1-under 71 on Tuesday to win the Thurston Invitational at Pine Ridge Golf. North Eugene outscored runner-up Sheldon 338-388 behind Tomp, Sydney Nelson (second-80) and Dakota Davis (third-82). ..
Roseburg's Lana Silvestri continued her outstanding freshman season with a victory in the Roseburg Invitational on Monday at Roseburg Country Club. Silvestri fired a 2-under 70 to beat Grants Pass' Chloe Daywitt by 15 strokes. Grants Pass outscored Roseburg 411-413 for first place. … Mountainside sophomore Kristine Shin shot a 4-under 69 to hold off Jesuit's Kate Lee (70) and Sunset's Erika Kobayashi (71) and win a Metro League tournament on Monday at Portland Golf Club. Jesuit won the team scoring, beating runner-up Sunset 311-331. … Junior Kate Ly led Cleveland to a victory in a Portland Interscholastic League tournament April 24 at Eastmoreland Golf Club, shooting a 2-under 72.
jerryu@osaa.org
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