Four La Conner High School golfers at state tournament

La Conner High School golfers nearly left the country to qualify for state competition in the Olympia area this week.

Four of its members – Sammy Williams, Gage Tenborg, Abi Udlock and Natalee Koch – emerged from Northwest Tri-District 2B trials at Loomis Trails Golf Course in Blaine with single round scores allowing them to advance to the state tournament at Tumwater Valley Golf Club.

Williams carded a 90 to place sixth on the Tri-District boys’ leaderboard. Tenborg was one stroke back, at 91, to clinch seventh place.

On the girls’ side, Udlock recorded a 123 for seventh place in the Tri-District field. Koch was 10th at 129, her best 18-hole finish this spring.

Corran Eisen and Hallie Walls also competed for La Conner at Loomis Trails but missed the cut for state on a difficult course with water in play on all but one hole.

The school golf program has reached new heights under head coach Jamie Carroll and assistant Galen McKnight. Emma Worgum, now a key member of the Western Washington University women’s team, won the girls’ state 2B title last year as a senior.

McKnight noted that Tenborg surged on the back-9 at Loomis Trail, firing a 41 to secure a berth.

“Natalie played very good golf as well,” said McKnight, “and shot her best score over 18 for the season.”

First round state action got underway yesterday. The final round is set for today.