Boys golfers welcome spring warmth

King's should contend for Class 1A title



By Tony Dondero

Enterprise reporter

Spring weather is finally here in the Puget Sound (for now) and area boys golfers must be glad to have some sun for a change.

In terms of teams to beat, Kamiak is the class of the Western Conference South Division and will try to defend its state championship.

"They're sounding pretty incredible. Their JV could beat just about anybody's varsity," Shorewood coach Bill Sugden said.

Meanwhile, in the Cascade Conference, King's coach Myrle Carner believes his team ought to contend for a conference championship and 1A state championship.

Here's a closer look at the four Shoreline area boys teams:

King's

King's has won four state boys golf titles and King's golf coach Myrle Carner believes the Knights will earn a fifth in 2009.

"If we don't win at state, it will probably be my fault," he said. "I've got everybody returning but I only have two seniors."

Three returning Knights -- senior Nick Hardy, junior Calvin McCutcheon and junior Price Coshow -- are shooting right around par, Carner said. Two freshman, James McCutcheon and Jonathan Dang, are also contenders for varsity five spots, while junior Zach Watts and senior Spencer Woods return to the varsity.

Junior Ryan Hoff, who earned medalist honors on a cold, rainy day at Jackson Park Golf Course in March, is sixth or seventh in the lineup, Carner said. Sophomore Colton Johnson is "greatly improved" over last year, he said.

Five or six players are capable of breaking 40 on nine holes, Carner said, and most of them are involved with junior golf in the summer.

"It shows me on any given day they (all) have the tools to do it," he said. "It's just getting them more experience."

King's finished fifth at state last year, two strokes out of a trophy, but with more depth, Carner believes they'll contend for first.

Even in bad weather the team was playing well and that should improve as temperatures warm.

"They're a very cohesive team," he said. "They work well together."