Spencer Tibbits got the state championship he came to Spokane to capture. It just took the Fort Vancouver junior a little bit more work to get it than he thought.
Tibbits made a birdie on the first playoff hole to beat Zach Evens of Mercer Island and win his second Class 3A boys golf championship Wednesday at the Creek at Qualchan Golf Course.
“After winning state as a freshman then having Sam get me last year, I really wanted to win this,” Tibbits said, referring to Bainbridge’s Sam Warkentin, who held a one-shot lead over Tibbits and Roosevelt’s Joe Klemencic after Tuesday’s first round.
A bumpy start by Warkentin Wednesday left Tibbits and Klemencic in a two-man race. A double bogey by Tibbits on No. 10 gave Klemencic a one-shot lead, but a birdie by Tibbits on No. 13 gave the Fort junior a two-shot lead.
Tibbits pushed his lead to four shots with two more birdies on Nos. 14 and 15.
“From there, I thought pars on the last three holes would get it done,” Tibbits said. “So I decided to play safely down the stretch and not make any mistakes.”
Tibbits followed through on his plan and found himself six feet from a birdie on No. 18.
“I thought ‘Put a good stroke on this, but don’t do anything stupid.’ ” Tibbits said.
His putt lipped out, and he tapped in for par and a final round 69 to go with his first-round 70, finishing three shots ahead of Warkentin and four ahead of Klemencic.
Tibbits headed to the clubhouse expecting to celebrate a win. Then he learned that Evens had sunk a 40-foot eagle putt on No. 18 to finish with a 66 and a two-round total of 3-under-par 139 — same as Tibbits.
“When I heard that, my heart just sank into my stomach,” Tibbits said. “I thought I had done everything I need to win. So to hear that I hadn’t was a real punch to the gut.”
Tibbits quickly regrouped and focused on the playoff hole, which would be on the par-5 No. 18, which Tibbits felt fit his long game.
Tibbits reached the green in two, then two-putted for birdie. When Evens’ long birdie putt didn’t fall, the title belonged to Tibbits.
“I felt really happy for Zach,” Tibbits said. “To shoot 66 is an awesome round of golf. I’m just glad I still able to win despite that.”
Columbia River’s Spencer Long finished tied for 17th (77-78–155).
4A BOYS: Camas’ Brian Humphreys cut four shots off his first-round score to shoot 74 Wednesday and placed tied for 15th at 152, seven strokes behind state champion Carl Underwood of Richland. Union’s Keith Lobis placed 25th (77-80–157) and Ben Gruher was 35th (81-81–162).
2A BOYS: Logan Moses of Ridgefield (79-80–159) placed tied for 15th.
1A BOYS: Clayton Rajewich of King’s Way Christian (80-78–158) placed 12th and Nick Kutch of Seton Catholic (84-90–174) was 37th.
3A GIRLS: Delainey Patterson of Prairie (94-97–191) tied for 38th.
2A GIRLS: Kallie Sakamoto of Washougal (80-78–158) cut two shots off her first round mark and finished third, 11 shots behind champion Morgan Blum of East Valley-Yakima. Cameron Bielat of Hockinson (87-92–179) tied for 18th, Hallie Escola of Hockinson (91-98–189) tied for 27th, Kayla Besel of Ridgefield (97-93,190) tied for 29th and Xaalan Dolence of Hudson’s Bay (99-93–192) placed 34th.
1A GIRLS: Taylor Entenman of La Center (93-98–191) tied for 16th.
