WOODLAND — Bring on state, the Ridgefield Spudders say.
Given what Ridgefield’s boys golf team accomplished at the 2A District golf tournament — qualifying all six golfers to state and all placing in the top 15 — the Spudders are now thinking big picture.
And that’s a trophy larger than the one hoisted Wednesday at Lewis River Golf Course.
“We’ve said it from the beginning,” senior Kellen Bringhurst said, “we want to win state as a team. And it starts now.
“It’s huge to send all six (golfer) to state.”
Ridgefield did so placing three of its golfers in the top 4 in addition to some notable second-day performances by others.
Defending champion Cade Bringhurst tied for second (151), one shot back of district champion Tyler Cassell (150) of Black Hills, Kellen Bringhurst (fourth, 154) and Kale Suomi (fifth, 161).
Cassell shot a final-round 73 Wednesday and entered the day with a three-shot lead on Columbia River’s Isaiah Lamont, who placed tied for second with Bringhurst (151).
The difference for the Spudders Wednesday came courtesy of Eli Saenz and Nick Radosevich. The two each shot opening-round 92s but turned their games round on the final 18 to qualify for state.
Radosevich shot an 80 with two birdies on the back nine, and Saenz went a step further and sunk a birdie on the No. 9 hole in a playoff to place 14th.
Or, in Kellen Bringhurst’s words, Saenz “Kale’d” the putt, referencing to the senior Kale Suomi.
“Kale is known to sink dingers,” Bringhurst said, “He killed it putt; it was a dagger. Just sinks it.”
Suomi said he learned from past mistakes to earn a state berth. For two years, he attempted to make swing changes the week leading up to districts.
Big mistake, he said.
“That’s the worst thing you can do,” he admitted.
That, in part, led to him shooting a 97 last year at Chehalis’ Riverside Golf Course for districts fand failing to make the Day 2 cut.
This week was different.
“I came in feeling good and didn’t make any changes,” Suomi said.
Suomi rebounded from quadruple- and double-bogies on holes Nos. 5 and 6 to par the final two front-9 holes on his way to fifth.
River sends five golfers to state, led by Lamont’s round that included two birdies on the back nine, including a birdie on 18. He also two-putted for par on 17. Lamont was two shots back of Cassell entering 18; Cassell parred the hole.
As soon as he walked to the 18th tee box he realized how big his par-putt on 17.
“The nerves started getting to me,” Lamont said. “I didn’t realize how big that putt was on 17, but that got me collected.”
Overall, Lamont said he played the golf he expected to on the Chieftains’ home course.
River splits time between Lewis River and Tri-Mountain for home matches and practices, but the past two weeks was exclusively at Lewis River in preparation for the league tournament and districts.
Brady Yackley (171), Ryan Snyder (175) and Alden Fay (176) placed in the top 20. Nate Schreiner won a playoff hole to earn an alternate spot.
And it made a difference, coach David Long said.
“We had an advantage,” he said, “and used it.”
Hockinson’s Tanner Hough shot a 174, and John Dorotik and Jarrett Christensen tied for 14th at 175.
