There’s something about trying to beat the best that can make even a bad day on the golf course a valuable lesson.

Two tough home meets at Useless Bay Golf Course Monday and Tuesday in which the South Whidbey boys beat only one of the seven teams they played proved to be learning time well spent by Thursday, when the Falcons beat up the only conference rival they hadn’t yet met — Blaine.

At the late-week meet, the Falcons downed not only the Borderites, but Meridian and Mount Baker as well in a nine-hole showdown at the North Bellingham Golf and Country Club. Steady play gave the Falcons a 208-217 win over second-place Meridian, and put them almost 20 points ahead of Blaine. Reed Dettrich and Bryan Wilson led the team with scores of 40 strokes each. Jeff Strong was close behind with a 42, while Kevin Carter and Bryce Hansen bookended the day with a pair of 43s. Medalists were Meridian’s Aaron Wright and Danny Rogers, each with 39 strokes.

Falcon Coach Mick Heggenes said his team’s play is settling in to playoff form. Having beaten every other boys golf team in the North Cascades Conference this season, the Falcons are favorites to win Thursday’s league championship in Lynden.

“They’re getting excited about playing,” he said.

On Monday, the Falcons finished last in a five-way meet at Useless Bay. Their 452-stroke team score was reasonably close to meet champion Cascade High School on an 18-hole course, but not close enough to be frightening.

“They’re loaded,” Heggenes said of the 4A team.

Tuesday’s meet was a little better. With Strong and Dettrich shooting 83s for 18, the Falcons lowered their team total to 434 and beat a hapless Stanwood squad by almost 100 strokes. However, teams from Monroe and Snohomish high schools were better, scoring 420 and 424 respectively.

Next week’s NCC championship at Lynden’s Homestead Golf Course begins at 1 p.m.