Falcon golfers undefeated after four outings

LANGLEY — Last year, the undefeated South Whidbey boys golf team won the Cascade Conference title and are on the road to do it again. And beyond. On Monday under severe wet conditions, they beat Cedarcrest by 43 strokes, 195 to 238, at Useless Bay Golf Club.

By Jeff VanDerford • April 25, 2008 11:40 pm
Blake Blakey was the first golfer off the mark Monday against the Red Wolves from Cedarcrest. South Whidbey won 195 to 238 to remain undefeated in the Cascade Conference. Blakey was second
Blake Blakey was the first golfer off the mark Monday against the Red Wolves from Cedarcrest. South Whidbey won 195 to 238 to remain undefeated in the Cascade Conference. Blakey was second

LANGLEY — Last year, the undefeated South Whidbey boys golf team won the Cascade Conference title and are on the road to do it again.

And beyond.

On Monday under severe wet conditions, they beat Cedarcrest by 43 strokes, 195 to 238, at Useless Bay Golf Club.

John Lindsay led the pack for the

Falcons with 34; Blake Blakey had 36, Brooks Guetlin, 38, Perry Cooley, 43, Jensen Connor, 44 and Nathan Kamps, 46.

In their last two matches, the boys beat Archbishop Murphy by 18 strokes and King’s by 20 — both very good teams.

“We’re playing at a high level,” Falcon coach Steve Jones said. “But league is one thing, playoffs another. When we get to that point, the competition tightens up.”

They know that from experience.

Varsity players Guetlin, Blakey and Nathan Kamps all traveled to state finals last May at Loomis Trail golf course in Bellingham — Blakey placed at 18, Kamps at 30. They both want to do much better this time around.

“The key is playing the course, not the opponent,” Jones explained. “Too often, golfers try to out-do one another instead of concentrating on the course. And we are focusing on the short aspects of the game; chipping, putting and pitching.

“That being said, I have to admit I have an incredibly talented group of athletes,” he added.

The boys, 14 to 17 years-old, somehow seem more mature than on their school’s campus.

“We teach course etiquette from the first day,” Jones said. “They develop a lot of social skills not found in other sports.”

Red Wolf coach Dan Tachell agreed. As he watched his young team tee off in the snow at the first hole, the four-year veteran had high hopes.

“We’re better than last year with a lot of junior varsity back-up,” he said.

“This is a beautiful course, maybe the best in our league even when the weather’s bad,” he added.

As they headed across the course toward the third hole, Lindsay and Kamps had differing views of their progress.

“I’m not where I want to be and I’m working with the club’s pro on the basics and my alignment, getting my shoulders, hips and the club in the right spot,” Lindsay said.

But Kamps is upbeat.

“My golf game is the best it’s ever been and the team is off to a great start,” he said.

After the match, Blakey — in his fourth year on the links as a varsity player — said that the league is a piece of cake.

“The only thing that really matters is the post-season and getting the school low score record, which is now 188,” he said. “We’re a focused group and we know how to get the job done.”

At 3 p.m. Thursday, April 10 the boys welcome Sultan; by then the sun may be shining.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or sports@southwhidbeyrecord.com.