It was the worst match South Whidbey boys golf senior Anton Klein played all season. Yet, the timing was just right.

Klein, a returning state participant, carded a 48 following Wednesday’s nine-hole match against King’s at Useless Bay Golf and Country Club. With the postseason just three weeks away, Klein has plenty of time to correct his mistakes and put the bad round behind him.

“I think that’s good for me because sometimes I think I get ahead of myself and think, ‘Oh, I’m going to go out and play good every day,’” Klein said. “It’s good to have a bad score so I know how to overcome it.”

South Whidbey boys golf defeated King’s by 28 strokes in a nine-hole home match on Thursday afternoon at Useless Bay Golf and Country Club. The 222-250 win moves the Falcons into second place in the Cascade Conference, said head coach Steve Jones.

Falcon senior Ian Saunsaucie tied the Knights’ Grayson Giboney for the lowest score of the day with a 40. It was one of Saunsaucie’s best rounds this season. His best moment came on his tee shot on hole 7 when he placed the ball about six feet from the pin.

Jones said Saunsaucie was about four to five strokes better than his average season.

“He had a great round today,” Jones said.

South Whidbey sophomore Gabe Jacobson-Ross finished second overall with a 42, while his teammates Thorin Helmersen and Ryan Wenzek finished third and fourth, respectively.

Much of the damage to Klein’s round came on hole 2 when he got bogged down in a bunker. He finished the hole with nine strokes, the maximum amount for a par-4. He later struggled on hole 8 when he went out of bounds. Despite the rough start, Klein said he didn’t give up and was able to make par on several of the following holes. But, there was still something funky about his play that he couldn’t quite fix, Klein said.

“It was one of those days where I’d hit the bad shot at the wrong time,” Klein said. “If I can’t go right on a hole, I’d go right and if you can’t go left on a hole I’d go left. It just seemed like that was happening.”

If there was a positive to the day for Klein, it was his putting.

“I didn’t miss that many putts, ” Klein said. “I probably only had about 14 for the round.”

Saunsaucie and Klein said the last three weeks of the season are significant for seniors. Saunsaucie, who is also a returning state participant, said he’s been grappling with a mix of excitement and nervousness. He said his focus will mainly be on his drives.

“I know courses that we’re going to play, like North Bellingham, where you pretty much have to have a far shot on every tee to compete,” Saunsaucie said.

Klein said he’ll work on his bunker play, alignment with his shots and his ball striking.

Evan Thompson / The Record — South Whidbey senior Ian Saunsaucie examines his approach shot to the green on hole 9. Saunsaucie tied for first with a 40.