This time, it all goes right for Li

After disappointing DQ at high school state, Kent golf star wins WJGA crown

There were no scorecard glitches this time.

Just another solid overall performance on the golf course from Kentwood junior-to-be Rui Li.

Li, a sweet-swinging 16-year-old, put the finishing touches on the girls 16-17 age division last Friday in the Washington Junior Golf Association state championship at Spokane Country Club.

The Kentwood star carded a final-round 78 on the par-73 course to fend off Rachel Choi of Mukilteo and Simone Strauss of Kirkland.

The win, however, wasn’t about redemption for Li, who would have taken second during May’s Class 4A state tournament, but turned in an incorrect scorecard and thus was disqualified.

“I didn’t feel I had to redeem myself after high school state,” Li said. “It was more of a, ‘Don’t do that again.’”

Li didn’t.

And, as expected, she came away with the title, carding a three-day total of 226, three strokes ahead of Choi and six ahead of Strauss.

After the opening round, which was played at Manito Country Club on Wednesday, Li was part of a three-way tie for first with Choi and Strauss.

Li moved into the lead on Thursday, shooting 1-under par 73 at Spokane Country Club while Choi carded a 76 and Strauss an 80. Li collected five birdies on the second day to take command.

Though she delivered a 78 on the final day, it was enough to stay ahead of Choi and Strauss.

“To win this was one of my goals this year, so it was nice to achieve it,” Li said. “I’ll take it and move on. I didn’t play particularly well … I hit the ball really well. I just didn’t hit a lot of putts.

The hardware Li brought home, however, was particularly nice.

“It’s a really big trophy that comes with it, probably the biggest one I’ve won so far,” she said. “That was awesome.”

Since being disqualified from the state tournament, Li has done nothing but win during a tournament-filled summer. Matter of fact, she estimates she’s won between 10 and 20 tournaments since school got out in June.

During last week’s tournament, she bagged eight total birdies and an eagle, which came during the first day on a par-5.

“That was really cool,” she said.

Next up for Li is the 53rd Annual Pacific Northwest Junior Girls’ Amateur Championship, which began Tuesday and runs through Friday at Longview Country Club.

Li won the title at Longview last year. But right now, even though she has won plenty this summer, it’s not all about victories.

“My goal has been for the past couple of months is to sharpen my game and shoot tournaments under par consistently,” she said.

ALSO: Catherina Li, Rui’s younger sister, placed third in the girls 12-13 age group. Playing at par-72 Wandermere Golf Course the first two days and at par-72 Spokane Country Club on final day, Li, age 12, shot 75-72-80 for a total of 227. She finished seven shots behind winner Chelsea Saelee of Seattle (79-71-70—220) and Sierrz Bezdicek of Colbert (73-69-80—222). Li was the District 6 champion and won all three of her sub-district tournaments. … Kentridge’s Sean McMullen (age 16) tied for 14th in the boys 16-17 age group with a 75-73-78—226. He was the only local player to make the cut in that age group. Missing the cut were Tahoma’s CJ Munko (81-77—158), Kent’s Tyler Clavin (79-80—159) and Covington’s Riley Kuranishi (81-81—162). … In age 14-15 boys, Kentwood’s Tom Zavada missed the cut with an 87-80—167. Zavada won the District 6 championship. … In 14-15 girls, Tahoma’s Amanda Fairweather missed the cut at 97-87—184.