Eastlake golfers edge out Skyline after tough finish

September 29, 2009

By Christopher Huber

Through the first seven holes of Sahalee’s South 9, the Skyline boys golf team held its own against Eastlake Sept. 22.

But Cole Clearman and Nathan Stephenson, Skyline’s top two golfers, had averaged 40-stroke finishes through the first four matches of the season and were looking good.

The Spartans had kept pace with Eastlake and looked to make it a close game.

“Then the eighth and ninth holes happened,” said Skyline coach Mike Fleming.

Suffice it to say Eastlake continues its hunt for the KingCo title after it beat Skyline 205-213.

Eastlake freshman Li Wang was the medalist against Skyline, finishing with an even 36.

Teammate Evan Alston had a 38 and Skyline’s Jordan Windsor had a 40-stroke finish on the par-36 course. A.J. Taylor, of Skyline came in with a 42.

“I think our team never gave up,” Wang said. “Even though they lost to their guys, they never gave up. They kept grinding it out.”

He said the win was nice and helps in the pursuit of a KingCo title, but Eastlake could have played better, considering Sahalee is its home course.

“It really pays off to have played the course before,” Wang said.

Wang, who seems particularly familiar with the course, added that the Skyline match was a bit tougher Sept. 22 because the groundskeepers had kept the Sahalee South 9 grass a little longer in the rough.

The 444-yard, par-4 hole No. 8 is a challenge for many, but for Skyline players, who are accustomed to the wider and more open Plateau Club fairways, it proved too challenging.

It doglegs right, with a forest of trees to the right and three bunkers on the left side of a fairway that slopes to the left.

Two more bunkers sit at the opening to the green, which slopes up from front to back.

Clearman and Stephenson finished with 45 strokes each, well off their averages, Fleming said.

“In my opinion, the No. 8 south is the toughest of the 27 at Sahalee,” said Eastlake coach Pat Bangasser. He said the ninth hole isn’t much easier.

“No. 9, you have to have a positive approach to that hole,” Bangasser said.

Wang, who finished with seven pars and a birdie, hit his only bogey of the day on the eighth hole.

“They have a pretty deep team, too … every one of their guys can post up a good number when playing well,” Wang said.

Eastlake improved to 4-1 after beating Liberty 182-221 Sept. 23 at Maplewood Golf Course. Chris Kobak medaled for the Wolves with a 34 on the par-36 course. Wang and Jack Strickland finished with 35 strokes each.

“Our goal is to get into the 170s this year,” Bangasser said.

At 2-2 after the Eastlake match, Skyline sits at a tipping point for the season, Fleming said.

With five matches remaining until playoffs, the Spartans look to do more than just focus better on the course.

The team has resorted to practicing six days a week.

“The whole season is kind of in the balance right now,” Fleming said. “We feel the need to step up our intensity level. We’ll see.”

Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.

Through the first seven holes of Sahalee’s South 9, the Skyline boys golf team held its own against Eastlake Sept. 22.

But Cole Clearman and Nathan Stephenson, Skyline’s top two golfers, had averaged 40-stroke finishes through the first four matches of the season and were looking good.

The Spartans had kept pace with Eastlake and looked to make it a close game.

A.J. Taylor, senior, hits out of the sand trap. Photo by Greg Farrar