GLENEDEN BEACH — Less than 24 hours after rain, hail and chilly temperatures postponed prep sporting events throughout the state last Tuesday, golfers from Newport, Toledo and Waldport high schools joined their hosts for a sunny afternoon on the golf course at the Taft JV Invitational on the back-nine at Salishan Golf Links.
“(The invitational was) by far, the most organized and formally presented tournament of the young golf season,” Taft head boys coach Andy Morgan wrote in an email to News-Times staff. “For many of the JV competitors, it was their first competition of the season.
“All of the school coaches, and the staff of professionals at Salishan, pitched in to teach the players how to compete in formal tournament etiquette. Rules and procedure were the goals of the competition. I truly believe this event provided experience that will help each participant throughout their season.”
All four schools sent boys golfers to participate, and a final group of three Taft and two Waldport female golfers also took to the course. Despite the tournament’s name, several varsity-level golfers participated.
On the individual leaderboards, Taft senior Lily Hatton carded the best girls’ round with a 51, and was followed by teammate Aleah Bailey, who carded a 59, and Waldport’s Madison Olson with a 63. Emma Henton from Taft and Teagan Price of Waldport each finished in 70 strokes.
“It was great holding a tournament in which the boys and girls shared the course — this was the first time we have done this that I know of,” Morgan wrote.
In the boys’ competition, Taft senior Zac Will shot the low round with a 7-over-par 42. Toledo senior Jake Long shot a 44 to take second and edge senior teammate/co-middle infielder on the Boomer baseball team, Coren Loper, who shot a 48.
Newport senior Ayden Pockrus followed with a 49, while Taft’s Ethan Fairfield and Christian Unruh, along with Ethan Childs from Toledo, shot matching rounds of 51. Eston Whisler from Taft (53), Hunter Stoker of Newport (58), Noah Fruechte of Waldport (59) and Evan McAfee from Newport (59) finished out the top 10 on the individual leaderboard.
“It was a really terrific day for golf at Salishan, where the weather can really play a factor in scores,” Morgan said. “The environment was extremely kind — as was the host Salishan. This was a really great day for nearly two dozen county youth. We should be extremely proud of the young men and women who represent our local county schools.”
Taft Junior Varsity Invitational
April 13 at Salishan Golf Links, Gleneden Beach
GIRLS
Lily Hatton, Taft 51
Aleah Bailey, Taft 59
Madison Olson, WHS 63
Emma Henton, Taft 70
Teagan Prince, WHS 70
BOYS
Top-10 individuals
Zac Will, Taft 42
Jake Long, Toledo 44
Coren Loper, Toledo 48
Ayden Pockrus, NHS 49
Ethan Fairfield, Taft 51
Christian Unruh, Taft 51
Ethan Childs, Toledo 51
Eston Whisler, Taft 53
Hunter Stoker, NHS 58
Noah Fruechte, WHS 59
Evan McAfee, NHS 59
INDIVIDUALS BY TEAM
TAFT — Zac Will 42, Ethan Fairfield 51, Christian Unruh 51, Eston Whisler 53, Luke Johnson 59, Zaden Parsons 64, Jet Mueller 64, Joshua Haeckel 66.
NEWPORT — Ayden Pockrus 49, Hunter Stoker 58, Evan McAfee 59, Luke Green 61.
TOLEDO — Jake Long 44, Coren Loper 48, Ethan Childs 51, Daniel Roesser 66, Cody Reids 67.
WALDPORT — Noah Fruechte 59, Valour Jones 67, Joshua Angelo 68.
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