Wilsonville's girls golf team -- with a talented cast that features sophomores Evie Dunn and Layla Sidhu – knew that this season had big possibilities.
Sure enough, after two 5A Northwest Oregon Conference tournaments, the Wildcats are proving to be a dominant force. Led by Dunn and Sidhu, they cruised to wins by 44 strokes at Charbonneau Golf Club last month and by 62 strokes at Willamette Valley Country Club on Monday.
“A lot of times we've had one or two kids, but one through five, it's fabulous,” said assistant coach Cindy Anderson, who was on the staff for Wilsonville's 5A title teams in 2017 and 2022.
Accomplished junior golfers, Dunn and Sidhu made their marks as freshmen. In the 5A tournament last year, Dunn placed third and Sidhu tied for fourth as Wilsonville finished as runner-up, 12 strokes behind Summit.
They have continued their strong play early this season, holding down the top two spots in both NWOC tournaments. At Charbonneau, Sidhu shot a 1-over 65 and Dunn fired a 67. At Willamette Valley Country Club, shot a 3-over 75 to beat Sidhu to one stroke.
“They're focused,” said Anderson, who assists coach Chris Bensel. “They're probably 10, 20 strokes ahead of the people they're playing with, and sometimes that can be difficult, but they keep their head in it. They don't get rattled too much, don't get too frustrated.”
Dunn and Sidhu are less than imposing figures, both standing about 5-2, but they swing big sticks.
“They strike the ball. They have great swings,” Anderson said. “They're the whole meal deal. They hit the ball straight, and they hit the ball a long ways. Evie is a grinder. She just plays and plays, hits and hits. Layla is more of a refiner.”
Dunn and Sidhu have a realistic shot to become Wilsonville's first individual champion since Agatha Brzezinski won three consecutive 3A/2A/1A titles from 2004 to 2006. They have the best chance since Juhee Lee finished as 5A runner-up three times (2009, 2010, 2011) and third once (2012).
“I keep telling these kids, they're good, but there were a couple really good golfers prior to them that they have no clue about,” Anderson said.
To win a title, though, Dunn and Sidhu must contend with North Eugene junior Francesca Tomp, the two-time champion, and Thurston senior Olivia Grandberry.
Wilsonville's state-title hopes will hinge on the supporting cast around Dunn and Sidhu. The Wildcats graduated their captain in Mia Combs, who finished 16th at state last year, but brought back their two other state scorers in juniors Madeline Downie (20th) and Malia Kaleikilo (32nd). They also added a promising freshman in Sophia Raschko, who attends Horizon Christian.
Downie is the team's No. 3 player, opening the season by shooting an 83 and 85. Raschko has been the team's No. 4 scorer in the first two tournaments, firing an 86 and 96.
“I don't know how much better Layla and Evie can get, but Madeline and Sophia and Malia are cranking it out,” Anderson said. “They've lowered their scores by about five to 10 strokes.”
If it all comes together, the Wildcats could be as good, if not better, than Wilsonville's state-title teams. Anderson said those teams were more balanced but didn't have the one-two punch at the top.
“We have these two great golfers and three good golfers who are trying to be great, whereas before we had like four good golfers and one great golfer,” Anderson said.
Anderson sees Summit as a major obstacle in Wilsonville's path. The Storm graduated three of its four top finishers from the state tournament, including runner-up Zoe Garcia, but have outstanding depth in the program.
Last year, the Wildcats were tied with Summit after the first round at state at Quail Valley Golf Course, but couldn't keep pace in the second round. That experience should help Wilsonville this year.
“They want to win the whole thing,” Anderson said. “We don't talk about it a ton. We talk about having lofty goals, but they know what we're talking about.”
Highlights from this week:
Boys
Westview senior Andy Yang recorded four birdies and an eagle while shooting a 3-under 68 to win a Metro League tournament at Langdon Farms. He edged Jesuit's Jack Harrington (69) and Mason Zimmerman (70). Jesuit outscored Westview 286-293 for first place. … Reynolds junior Mason Ho shot 1-under 71 to top a Mt. Hood Conference tournament at Stone Creek by six strokes. … Wilsonville's Michael Flaherty (1-under 71) and Luke Sidhu (72) finished 1-2 to lead the first-place Wildcats past La Salle Prep 309-313 in an NWOC tournament at Stone Creek. …
Ashland's Josh Moran fired a par-72 at Eagle Point to hold off Thurston's Payton Wiedenmann by two strokes in a Midwestern League tournament. … Summit turned back Mountain View 316-323 to take an Intermountain Conference tournament at Juniper. Storm senior Jakob Hansen (76) was the medalist, beating Mountain View juniors Grayson Moore (76) and Brody Hansen (77). … Valley Catholic sophomore Benny Zhu won the eight-team Oregon Invitational at Pumpkin Ridge, carding a 3-under 68 to beat junior teammate Garrett Grant by eight strokes. Valley Catholic outscored Oregon Episcopal 327-336 for first place. …
Sherwood's Cohen Gladheim captured a highly competitive Pacific Conference tournament at Pumpkin Ridge. He shot a par 71 to top teammate Tiger Lu (72) and Newberg's Ray Greller (73). Sherwood won with a score of 309, ahead of Newberg (316) and Glencoe (317). … Lebanon's Ryland Carroll (75) won by one stroke over Corvallis' Thomas Mendoza and Ryan John in a Mid-Willamette Conference tournament at Cross Creek. Corvallis defeated Crescent Valley 320-327 for first place. … McNary's Elijah Clendening fired a par 72 to finish first in a Central Valley Conference tournament at Creekside, beating Sprague's Clayton Watters by three strokes. Sprague shot 319 to win by 25 strokes over West Salem.
Girls
Westview's Melinee Udom continued her strong freshman season by winning a Metro League tournament at Langdon Farms. Udom fired a 3-over 74 to beat Sunset's Erika Kobayashi (77). Sunset scored 330 to finish ahead of Jesuit (366) and Mountainside (368). … Thurston's Olivia Grandberry picked up a win in a Midwestern League tournament at Eagle Point, shooting a 3-over 75. …
Clackamas freshman Jessi Tantog dominated a Mt. Hood Conference event at Glendoveer. She shot a 77 to pull away from Nelson seniors Anika Long and Alyssa Gibbons, who tied for second at 89. Nelson defeated Clackamas 377-411 for first place. … Glencoe sophomore Lindsay Braithwaite won a Pacific Conference tournament at Pumpkin Ridge by shooting a 78.
jerryu@osaa.org
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