Tom Zavada of Kent won the boys 14-15 age division, Kentridge High star Lauren Sewell took the 16-17 girls title, Kentwood’s Kent Hagen won the 16-17 boys, and Kent’s Catherina Li dominated the 12-13 girls in last week’s Washington Junior Golf Association district championship at The Classic Golf Club in Spanaway.
They were joined by five other golfers from the Kent and Covington areas who qualified for this week’s WJGA state tournament, which will be played at three Spokane courses: the Spokane Country Club, Manito and Wandermere.
However, Sewell and Hagen will not be at state. The 16-year-old Sewell has qualified for the Girls Junior America’s Cup matches, which begin Thursday at Willow Park Golf & Country Club in Calgary, Alberta. Hagen has a previous family vacation commitment.
Zavada played steady golf over the two rounds at district. He shot a 5-over-par 77 in both rounds for a 154 total that left him one shot ahead of runners-up Tyler Salsbury of Enumclaw (80-75) and Kelly Campbell of Auburn (78-77).
No one has been able to keep pace with 12-year-old Li in the girls 12-13 age division. She won her three sub-district tournaments by a combined 61 strokes (16 at Allenmore, 26 at Auburn and 19 at Lipoma Firs). It wasn’t close at district, either. She shot an 8-over 82 on the first day, then improved to 81 on the second day for a 163 total. She wound up 44 shots ahead of second-place Kendall Gray of Federal Way.
The 16-year-old Hagen, who was a model of consistency during the four sub-district tournaments (one win, two seconds, and a third), played the same way at district. He had twin rounds of 2-over 74, enough to give him a 148 and a one-shot victory over Auburn’s Broc Johnson. Kent’s Sean McMullen, who had a second, a tie for second and a tie for third in his three sub-district tournaments, tied for third at district with a 77-75–152 to earn his ticket to state.
Ryan Kuranishi of Covington (78-83–161) and Tyler Clavin of Kent (81-82–163) will join McMullen at state.
Sewell took a three-shot lead after the first day of play in the 16-17 girls division with a 6-over 80. She cut that to a 79 in the second round, giving her a 159 total and a six-shot margin over Mallory Kent of Tukwila. Sewell, who finished fifth for Kentridge in the Class 4A state high school girls tournament this past spring, came into district having won two of the three sub-district tournaments in which she played.
Stephanie Sewell was second in the 8-11 girls division. Playing nine holes each day, she shot 56-55–111 to qualify for state.
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