They’ve produced some of the area’s best golfers during the last several years.
Chris Cho, a 2008 Kentridge High graduate and four-time state participant, is now competing at the University of Idaho. Sean McMullen, who graduated last spring and who made four strong runs at the state tournament, is now playing at Seattle University. Yet, Cho and McMullen never did accomplish what the Chargers managed last week.
Behind a huge performance from sophomore Nick Fisher at Lake Wilderness Golf Course, the Chargers turned back Tahoma 78-71 on Thursday, Oct. 7 to secure the South Puget Sound League North Division title.
“Even those teams with Cho and McMullen didn’t win it,” said Kentridge coach Charlie Mitchell. “It’s really cool that they’ve been able to do this … and we’ve had some pretty good teams. To put up a banner in the gym is cool for these guys. A lot of people don’t look at golf as a team sport, but all of the guys chipped in.”
Kentridge hadn’t won a league title since 1993.
The win helped the Chargers complete the regular season with a 9-1 record. The only blemish on an otherwise perfect regular season came in a 79-79 tie to Kentlake on Sept 23. The tie was settled by total strokes. Kentlake had fewer (245) strokes than Kentridge (249) for the match.
Last week against the Bears, Fisher assured there would be no ties. The sweet-swinging sophomore served up three birdies en route to carding a nine-hole total of 34 on the 91-year-old, par-34 course. Fisher’s score not only counted for 18 points to the Chargers’ team victory, but also helped him bring home honors as the day’s medalist.
More importantly, however, it helped assure the Chargers of their first SPSL North crown in more than a decade. Had Kentridge lost, it would have moved into a two-way tie with Kentlake for the final standings in the North.
“He has turned it on a little bit,” Mitchell said of Fisher.
Kentridge senior Tyler Hanson followed Fisher, carding a 39 for a total of 13 points while sophomore Matt Fisher finished with a 40 for 13 points.
Kentwood won the previous two SPSL North titles. This fall, after Kentridge, came Kentlake (8-2) and Kentwood (7-3).
This title, however, might be the first of more to come in the near future for the Chargers as the majority of the roster is comprised of sophomores. Also chipping in to last week’s win were sophomores Ben DuBois (41 for 11 points) and Ahren Young (40 for 12 points) along with senior Ryan Smith (42 for 11 points).
Kentridge and the rest of the SPSL North will close out the fall season on Oct. 20-21 at Bremerton’s Gold Mountain Golf Course, which will be hosting the Class 4A medalist and state qualifying tournaments. The state tournament will not be held until the spring at a yet to be determined course. Between the top 17 and 20 golfers at the qualifier Oct. 21 will advance to the state tournament. The official total will not be determined until the spring.
Kentridge’s Young was the lone current Charger to advance last season.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
