Mason Acker of Washougal fends off Luke Potter of Columbia River to win 2A boys golf district title

PORTLAND — Mason Acker was focused on himself.

Columbia River junior Luke Potter was focused on Acker.

After a blistering front nine Tuesday, Acker, a Washougal senior, had to fend off a late charge from Potter, capturing the Class 2A boys golf district championship by one shot Tuesday at Heron Lakes Golf Course.

Playing through soggy conditions Monday, Acker entered Tuesday’s second round on fire with six pars and three birdies on the front nine.

“A lot of putts were dropping, so that definitely helps,” Acker said. “The greens were a lot faster than last week, so distance control wasn’t a problem. I was hitting the ball great. Balls were going were they needed to, and that’s how I made my birdies.”

Acker added another birdie on No. 10 to open a comfortable lead, not that Acker was paying any attention to the other players in the field.

“I think the reason I won these last couple of tournaments in a row is because I don’t look at the leaderboard,” Acker said. “I know where I’m at, and I know where I need to be.”

After going 2-over on the front nine Tuesday, Potter knew where he needed to be — hot in pursuit of Acker.

Potter birdied Nos. 13 and 14 and Acker bogeyed No. 14 to tighten things up.

“When he made a bogey, I was just trying to play really aggressive,” Potter said. “I was trying to make a birdie on 17 or 18, and it just didn’t happen.”

Acker had a two-shot edge on Potter after No. 14. Both golfers parred No. 15 and 16.

On 17, Acker’s second shot went into a fairway bunker that was soggy and muddy from some existing standing water left over from Monday.

Acker and his coach were trying to see if he could get some relief. Eventually, Acker played it from the bunker and hit into a greenside bunker, leading to a bogey.

That drew Potter within one shot.

“Yeah, it was tough,” Acker said. “I had a terrible lie on 17. I came out with a bogey. Sometimes bogeys can be your friend.”

Acker said the mishap on 17 helped him focus for the final hole.

Potter was on the green in two on the par-4, while Acker’s approach came up a bit short.

Acker chipped in close to the hole, leaving Potter with about 12-foot birdie putt to tie. It came up short.

Acker sank his par putt for the victory.

The win Tuesday followed up his win last week in the 2A Greater St. Helens League championship.

“I think (the season) went great,” Acker said. “I’m really happy with how I finished, and I’m excited to see what comes next for me.”

While frustrated at coming up short, Potter was happy for Acker.

“It was fun,” Potter said. “Me and Mason are really good friends. I’ve known him for a long time. It was a fun battle.”

Acker finished with a 36-hole total of 145, one over par, and Potter was second at 146. Broden Toney of Mark Morris (148) was third, followed by Riley Coleman of R.A. Long (149) and Trenton Maddox of Washougal (150).

Owen Winn of Columbia River was sixth at 151, helping Columbia River take the team title over Washougal.

“We came out with the team win, and that’s really what matters,” Potter said.

2A DISTRICT TOURNAMENT

At Heron Lakes GC, Portland, par 72

36-hole totals

Team scores — Columbia River 145.5, Washougal 139, Tumwater 117, Mark Morris 112, W.F. West 85.5, Black Hills 74, Woodland 30, Centralia 15.5.

Top 5 individuals — 1, Mason Acker (Wa) 145; 2, Luke Potter (CR) 146; 3, Broden Toney (MM) 148; 4, Riley Coleman (RA Long) 149; 5, Trenton Maddox (Wa) 150.

COLUMBIA RIVER — 2, Potter 73-73 146; 6t, Owen Winn 79-72 151; 12, Jack Flynn 83-78 161; 18, Carsyn Howard 85-80 165; 27, Lucas Zygar 87-83 170.

WASHOUGAL — 1, Acker 75-70 145; 5, T. Maddox 76-74 150; 10t, Jude Maddox 77-83 160; 31, Silas Hall 91-83 174;  35, Nash Neumann 90-90 180; 36, Atison London 89-94 183.

TUMWATER — 6t, Braeden Konrad 71-80 151; 17, Landen Baydo 80-84 164;  20, Zane Laposky 80-86 166; 22, Liam Gustafson 83-85 168; 22, Baylor Olson 83-85 168;

MARK MORRIS — 3, Toney 77-71 148; 8t, Henry Kelly 76-82 158; 14, Ethan Kosoris 83-79 162; 29, Mark Hendrickson 80-92 172.

W.F. WEST — 10t, Weston Potter 79-81 160; 24, Emmett Goodman 87-82 169; 24, Jax Potter 86-83 169;   30, Jamie Conzatti 86-87 173; 33, Fox Rogerson 90-85 175; 40, Carter Hinkledy 91-95 186.

BLACK HILLS — 12, Phoenix Flores 78-83 161; 13, Jack Casler 82-80 162; 24, Kendell Roberson 87-82 169; Logan Stalling 89-96 185.

WOODLAND — 16, Jake Sams 85-78 163; 36, Trent Blatnik 87-96 183.

CENTRALIA — 31, Tyler Fagerness 85-89 174; 36, Jake Johnson 89-94 183.

Others — 8t, Ethan Wall (Hockinson) 81-77 158; 19, Drew Krsul (Ridgefield) 83-83 166; 21, Treyton Fraki (Hockinson) 87-80 167; 27, Brody Newcombe (Ridgefield) 80-92 172; 34, Evan Yost (Ridgefield) 89-88 177.