It was one of the driest springs in recent memory, the spring of 2013.
Then the Class 4A and 3A boys and girls golf tournaments came to Southwest Washington, and it poured.
It was far from ideal weather for the opening round, then it was just downright nasty for the final round.
Weather does not always cooperate.
As far as what could be controlled, officials with the Vancouver USA Regional Sports Commission and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association say that things ran smoothly last year.
“The feedback was great. We had tremendous support from our regional courses, our athletic directors, and our school districts,” said Brad Updike, in charge of sports development at the commission. “It was a beautiful event with great facilities. Despite the downpours, the event was great.”
This week, the four golf courses — Camas Meadows, Club Green Meadows, Lewis River, and Tri-Mountain — are hosting again.
The Class 4A boys tournament will be at Camas Meadows, featuring defending champion Brian Humphreys of Camas. The 3A boys will tee off at Tri-Mountain in Ridgefield. The 4A girls are at Club Green Meadows in Vancouver, and the 3A girls are in Woodland at Lewis River. Practice rounds are scheduled for Tuesday, with the opening round on Wednesday. The top 40 players will make the cut for Thursday’s final round.
“We have a great group of volunteers to put the tournaments on,” said Leta Meyer, the athletic director at Heritage as well as a member of the WIAA’s executive board. “We really have a great golfing community here. It wasn’t hard to think of people to help and you knew it was going to be done right.”
As an AD in the spring, Meyer said she always feels like a “weather girl,” checking the long-range forecasts.
According to weather.com, the forecast calls for showers — with a 40 percent chance of rain — on Wednesday, the opening round of the tournaments, with a high of 62 degrees. On Thursday, cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain, with a high of 68.
Not exactly Palm Springs, but that would still be much better golf weather than last year.
“I hope it doesn’t rain. We want people to be able to enjoy the scenery, enjoy the courses, and the kids can enjoy their golf,” Meyer said.
Rain or shine, expect a lot of visitors to the region.
“We hosted about 300 room nights in the community,” Updike said, referring to hotel stays. “It’s a huge event for Vancouver, and we’re looking forward to doing it again this year. Hopefully we can get more events like that from the WIAA in the future.”
The golf tournaments are awarded to regions on a two-year cycle, so state golf will not return to Southwest Washington next year.
The commission, though, is always open to the idea of bringing more WIAA championships to the region.
Recently, officials say Clark County came close to landing state volleyball.
Updike said while high school state cross country has been a mainstay in the Tri-Cities, the commission would be very interested in pursuing that sport if the opportunity presented itself. Vancouver has hosted to the NAIA national cross country championships.
“We’re always trying to go after a little bit of everything,” Updike said.
Class 4A boys
Wednesday tee times: 7:30 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. at Camas Meadows
Top returners: Brian Humphreys, Camas (defending champion), Eddie Abellar Union (tied for third), Brian Mogg, Skyline (tied for third), Rudy Caparas, Lynnwood (fifth), Tanner Comes, Ferris (tied for eighth), Spencer Weiss, Eastlake (tied for eighth)
Locals to watch: Humphreys and Abellar get to play on their home course again. Same is true for Ben Gruher of Union and Braden Campbell of Camas.
Class 4A girls
Wednesday tee times: 7:30 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. at Club Green Meadows
Top returners: Sierra Kersten, Lewis and Clark (defending champion) beat Olivia Benzin of Bellarmine Prep in a playoff last year. Both are in the field this year; Alivia Brown, Bellarmine Prep (third); Katie Lee, Central Kitsap (fourth); Stephanie Sewell, Kentridge (sixth); Ashley Fitzgibbons, Eastlake (tied for seventh); Hanna Yi, Thomas Jefferson (tied for seventh); Kelly Hooper, Gonzaga Prep (tied for 10th); Jamie Midkiff, Eastlake (tied for 10th)
Locals to watch: District 4 champion Reilly Whitlock tees off at 8:50 a.m.; runner-up Taylor Hartley tees off at 9:10 a.m.
Class 3A boys
Wednesday tee times: 7:44 a.m. to 11:54 a.m. at Tri-Mountain
Top returners: Frank Garber, Juanita (defending champion); Adam Barker, Peninsula (third); Andy Liu, Interlake (sixth).
Locals to watch: With only three returners among last year’s top 10 finishers, there is an opportunity for Fort Vancouver freshman Spencer Tibbts, who will tee off at 7:44 a.m. with the first group. Columbia River’s Brandon Barnes tees off at 8:24 a.m.
Class 3A girls
Wednesday tee times: 7:30 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. at Lewis River
Top returners: Sierra Bezdicek, Mt. Spokane (second); Sarah Rhee, Ingraham (fourth); Celia Beyke, Decatur (fifth); Catherine Warner, Southridge (eighth); Annie Leete, Oak Harbor (ninth).
Locals to watch: District champion Bridget Standard will be the first local to tee off at 8:20 a.m., followed by Mountain View’s Abby Kadrmas at 9:10 a.m.
