After two months, no team has separated as a clear-cut favorite entering the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 6A boys golf tournament Monday and Tuesday at the OGA Golf Course in Woodburn.
The outlook for the individual title is another matter, however.
Lake Oswego junior Drew Woolworth, who cruised to an eight-stroke victory in last year's tournament by shooting a 7-under 137 at Quail Valley Golf Club, is the obvious frontrunner. He is bidding to become the first 6A player to repeat as champion since Lake Oswego's Cole Madey won the title in 2014 and shared it in 2015.
The left-handed Woolworth, who has committed to Georgia, has taken his game up a notch this season. In seven rounds, he has a stroke average of 69.14, including a 65 and two 67s.
“He's been ridiculous. It's really impressive,” Lake Oswego coach Adam Ruben said. “Drew's the real deal. Those scores definitely show how much Drew's improved since last year, which is crazy to think about. He's so consistent, it looks easy.”
Woolworth's drives carry up to 310 yards in the air. But it's the accuracy of his approach shots that is most responsible for his improvement, according to Ruben.
“He's definitely dialing those in,” Ruben said. “If he does miss it, he's missing in the right spot. His bad shots aren't as far away from the pin, and his good shots are even closer. His scoring clubs have definitely improved in the last year, which is what it takes to get to the next level.”
Many eyes will be on Woolworth, but he proved last year that he can deliver on high expectations. He had the top score in both rounds last year at Quail Valley, following a 69 with a 68.
“We try to distract him from the pressure, but he's been in this situation for so long, I think he knows how to handle it better than pretty much anybody,” Ruben said. “It's like, how do we just get out of his way and come up with ideas to help him play better?”
Woolworth won five of the seven Three Rivers League tournaments this season. He finished second to West Linn junior Cade McVicker by five strokes at Oswego Lake Country Club on April 7, and he shot a 75 to finish seventh at Tualatin Country Club on April 28.
Tigard senior Jennings Oelke, who tied for 10th at state last year, was Woolworth's top competition in league matches. The Iona-bound Oelke shot an average of 69.57 in those seven tournaments.
“Jennings can definitely be a threat. He was there all year,” Ruben said. “It kinds of comes down to getting hot at the moment, and when you can get those lucky breaks, trying to take advantage of those.”
Woolworth was a part of Lake Oswego's 2023 state championship team, finishing 11th in the tournament. But with three of the Lakers' scorers from that team returning in 2024, they placed second at state, five strokes behind Jesuit.
Woolworth and sophomore Nathan Pai (tied for 27th at state last year) will lead Lake Oswego's charge Monday and Tuesday. Much of the Lakers' fate will rest on the play of junior Nate Cheriel and senior Colin Konkol.
“We're not as deep as we once were, but we're very solid to where everyone can go low,” Ruben said. “I think we've got a solid chance this year.”
Many teams are entering the tournament with momentum.
“They're all coming into their stride at a good time,” Ruben said. “It's kind of all up for grabs. Everyone is so good now from their one to their four. Anybody could probably win it, which makes it fun.”
A preview of the state tournaments, Monday and Tuesday:
Boys
6A, OGA Golf Course, Woodburn
District qualifying teams: Cleveland, Jesuit, Glencoe, Central Catholic, Lake Oswego, South Salem, Sheldon
At-large regional qualifying teams: Westview, Sherwood, Mountainside, Tigard, Lakeridge, Grants Pass, South Medford
2024 state tournament: Jesuit 595, Lake Oswego 600, Grants Pass 616, Westview 619
Top returning state placers: 1. Drew Woolworth, Lake Oswego, jr.; T3. Mason Ho, Reynolds, sr.; T3. Carson Krauss, Grants Pass, jr.; 8. Quinn Hefele, Lincoln, sr.; 9. Cade McVicker, West Linn, jr.
Notes: Jesuit can set a state record with an 11th team title, one year after tying Lake Oswego and Medford at 10. The Crusaders have built around Michigan-bound senior Jack Harrington (tied for 12th last year) and senior Joseph Ulrich (tied for 10th). Jesuit and Metro League rival Mountainside each scored 305 to tie for first place in the 22-team 6A/5A State Preview on April 23 at OGA, one shot ahead of another Metro team, Westview. Harrington won with a 3-under 69. The previous week at OGA, Glencoe fired a 306 to win a 16-team 6A/5A State Preview. Glencoe senior Brody Landaker was the top 6A finisher at 72. Lake Oswego did not have a varsity entry in either state preview. Woolworth placed 11th as a freshman at Emerald Valley before running away with the title last year, winning by eight strokes at Quail Valley. Ho, signed with California Baptist, enters off rounds of 69, 70 and 68. Krauss has tied for third place the last two years.
5A, OGA Golf Course, Woodburn
District qualifying teams: La Salle Prep, Thurston, Corvallis, Summit
At-large regional qualifying teams: Wilsonville, Canby, Dallas, Crater
2024 state tournament: Summit 607, La Salle Prep 626, Wilsonville 652, Corvallis 660
Top returning state placers: 1. Jonas Caddell, La Salle Prep, sr.; T2. Luke Sidhu, Wilsonville, jr.; T2. Bryce Grieb, Summit, jr.; T5. Michael Flaherty, Wilsonville, sr.; T5. Matthew Martin, La Salle Prep, soph.
Notes: Summit, which won the 6A title in 2022 and 5A titles the last two years, goes for its fourth consecutive championship. The Storm graduated two top-five placers, but have a formidable squad led by Grieb (district champion), sophomore Bryden Ditty and sophomore Paolo Delia, all top-10 finishers in 2024. Summit shot 322 to finish second to 6A Glencoe (306) in a 16-team 6A/5A State Preview at OGA on April 16. Bend (326), Canby (327) and Mountain View (331) were close behind. Canby freshman Connor Holden was medalist at 1-under 71. La Salle Prep, Corvallis and Wilsonville played in a 22-team 6A/5A State Preview at OGA on April 23, scoring 323, 327 and 334, respectively. Sidhu (71) was the top 5A finisher in that tournament. Two years ago, Flaherty was co-state champion with La Salle Prep's Will Koch.
4A, Tokatee Golf Course, McKenzie
Special district qualifying teams: Seaside, Madras/Culver, Crook County, Scappoose, Marist Catholic, Cascade, Junction City, Stayton, Marshfield, North Bend, Baker, Pendleton/Griswold
2024 state tournament: Marist Catholic 659, Baker/Powder Valley 663, North Bend 703, Scappoose 703, Cascade 703
Top returning state placers: 2. Massimo, Cereghino, Molalla, sr.; 3. Owen Bascom, North Bend, sr.; T4. Christian Guerrero, Marist Catholic, sr.; T7. Elias Long, Baker/Powder Valley, jr.; 9. Nick Hudson, Marist Catholic, sr.
Notes: Bascom won the 12-team 4A State Preview at Tokatee on May 5, shooting a 4-under 68 to beat Seaside junior Xanh Quang by four strokes. Hudson (third-73), Long (fourth-77) and Cereghino (fifth-78) were among those competing. Bascom was state runner-up by one stroke in 2023 before taking third last year. Cereghino has placed sixth, fourth and second the last three years. Marist Catholic, which won its seventh team title last year, shot 318 at the State Preview to beat Seaside (339) for first place. The Spartans brought back three of their four scorers from last year in Guerrero, Hudson and junior Jaxen Mazur. Hudson was the quarterback for Marist Catholic's state champion football team.
3A/2A/1A, Trysting Tree Golf Club, Corvallis
Special district qualifying teams: Oregon Episcopal, Valley Catholic, Warrenton, Western Christian, Blanchet Catholic, East Linn Christian, Bandon, St. Mary's, Douglas, Burns/Crane, McLoughlin, Trinity Lutheran
2024 state tournament: Bandon 655, Valley Catholic 677, Banks 693, Western Christian 700, St. Mary's 700
Top returning state placers: 1. Davis Hartwell, Crosspoint Christian, jr.; 2. Benny Zhu, Valley Catholic, jr.; T3. Lucas Vanderlip, Brookings-Harbor, sr.; T3. Sevren Quinn, Bandon, soph.; 5. Peyton Simonds, Bandon, sr.
Notes: Hartwell, who has committed to Oregon State, is the player to beat. After winning the title last year, he took second in the PGA High School Golf National Invitational, shooting a three-day total of 13-under 203. Quinn beat Hartwell by one stroke in their district tournament, however, firing a 4-under 140 at Bandon Crossings. Bandon set its school record twice this season. The Tigers shot 292 at Pumpkin Ridge and 290 to win the 3A/2A/1A State Preview at Trysting Tree on April 29. Quinn and Siuslaw senior Ryan Klampe were co-medalists at 2-under 69. Zhu was the champion in 2023, when Simonds and Vanderlip were in a three-way tie for second. The top 10 placers from last year return.
Girls
6A, Emerald Valley Golf & Resort, Creswell
District qualifying teams: Cleveland, Sunset, McMinnville, Clackamas, Lake Oswego, Sprague, Grants Pass
At-large regional qualifying teams: Jesuit, Mountainside, Westview, West Linn, Tualatin, Sheldon, West Salem
2024 state tournament: Lake Oswego 632, Sunset 646, Jesuit 649, Grants Pass 669
Top returning state placers: 1. Kate Lee, Jesuit, sr.; T2., Melinee Udom, Westview, soph.; 4. Kristine Shin, Mountainside, soph.; T5. Kate Ly, Cleveland, jr.; T5. Hailey Lim, Lake Oswego, jr.
Notes: Ly (4-under 68) outdueled Roseburg freshman Lana Silvestri (69) to win the 6A State Preview on May 1 at Emerald Valley. Lakeridge freshman Hannah Wendorf (72) was the only other player in serious contention at the 12-team tournament, which did not include several top teams. Jesuit, led by Lee (81), shot 323 to finish first, ahead of Metro League rival Mountainside (341) and Sheldon (369). Ly, runner-up in 2023, is the sister of Oregon State's Kyra Ly, who set the state tournament record by shooting 14-under 130 to win the 2022 title. Lim has a stroke average of 69.0 this season, including an 8-under 63 at Arrowhead Golf Club.
5A, Emerald Valley Golf & Resort, Creswell
District qualifying teams: Wilsonville, North Eugene, Crescent Valley, Summit
At-large regional qualifying teams: Ridgeview, Bend, Eagle Point, Crater
2024 state tournament: Wilsonville 680, Summit 716, North Eugene 763, La Salle Prep 771
Top returning state placers: 1. Francesca Tomp, North Eugene, sr.; 4. Evie Dunn, Wilsonville, jr.; 6. Layla Sidhu, Wilsonville, jr.; 7. Payton Richardson, Redmond, jr.; 9. Macy McAlister, Summit, sr.
Notes: Tomp has a chance to become the state's second four-time champion, joining Summit's Madison Odiorne, who won 5A titles from 2012 to 2015. Last year, Tomp shot a total of 145 to win by 12 strokes. In a scaled-down, four-team 5A State Preview on April 30 at Emerald Valley, Tomp fired a 1-under 71 to finish ahead of three Wilsonville players: Dunn (77), sophomore Sophia Raschko (78) and Sidhu (79). Wilsonville outscored North Eugene 316-362 for first place. Dunn placed third in 2023 and fourth last year; Sidhu took fourth in 2023 and sixth last year.
4A/3A/2A/1A, Trysting Tree Golf Club, Corvallis
Special district qualifying teams: Banks, Scappoose, Crook County, Riverdale, Salem Academy, Harrisburg, North Bend, Marshfield, St. Mary's, Henley, Baker, Trinity Lutheran
2024 state tournament: Salem Academy 758, Crook County 772, North Bend 773, St. Mary's 779
Top returning state placers: 2. Vishaka Priyan, Catlin Gabel, jr.; 6. Chloe Johnston, Salem Academy, soph.; 7. Tygh Timinsky, Dufur, jr.; T8. Alexandra Willcoxen, Salem Academy, jr.; T11. Emma Wheelock, St. Mary's, soph.
Notes: Priyan place fourth in 2023 before finishing as runner-up by six strokes to Valley Catholic's Madeliene Conser last year. She enters off an outstanding performance in winning her district tournament, shooting a 7-under 137 at Meadow Lakes Golf Club. Salem Academy brought back its entire lineup from its first state championship team. The Crusaders won the 18-team 4A/3A/2A/1A State Preview at Trysting Tree on April 29, shooting 326 to beat second-place Banks by 51 strokes. North Valley senior London Kilborn shot 79 to win by one stroke over Salem Academy's Johnston and Willcoxen. Priyan did not play in the preview. Johnston shot 4-under 140 to win her district title at Santiam Golf Club.
jerryu@osaa.org
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