Local high schools face off on the links

Golfers from Wesco high schools around north Snohomish County are hitting the links despite the pandemic.

Camalach Golf Course, which is the home course for Stanwood, hosted a match April 29 that included five schools — Arlington, Lakewood, Arlington, Marysville-Pilchuck and Marysville Getchell. Each school was able to bring five golfers.

“For a COVID year, it’s a lot different than in the past,” said Dan DeWitte, head golf coach for Marysville-Pilchuck.

In previous years, groups used to have one golfer from each school. During the pandemic-shortened golf season in 2021, schools play in their own bubble during the nine-hole round, DeWitte said.

DeWitte, said the golfers enjoy interacting with their teammates, but lose out on the social aspect of meeting kids from other schools.

At the end of the nine-hole round on April 29, Stanwood was in first place with 174, Arlington was second with 187, Lakewood was third with 188 and Marysville-Pilchuck and Marysville Getchell tied for fourth with 206. Each team brought five golfers and the scores for the top four counted.

“We struggled a bit on a few holes,” Arlington coach Kevin Cogill said.

He highlighted the efforts of junior Tate Rorick, who tied for second overall with a 41.

Trent Nobach had a couple of battles early in the rounds and completed with a 48. “He finished strong in the last couple of holes,” Cogill said.

DeWitte said Jace Luton, who shot 47 for Marysville-Pilchuck, is fairly new to golf and is learning and enjoying the sport. Dylan Carson, who finished with a 51, was competing in his first varsity golf game April 29.

Marysville Getchell’s Sean Brown also tied for second overall with a score of 41. Coach Ryan Gilbertson noted Brown’s efforts on the fourth and eighth holes. “He executed some pretty good shots,” Gilbertson said.

Lakewood’s Shea Dixon finished with a 45, which was good for fifth place, and Ben Schmidt finished with a 46, which was good for sixth place and Mike Schmidt finished with a 47, which earned him seventh place.

Golf teams are enjoying a brief season that is a little more than a month long and lacks a post season.

“We’re just happy to play a little bit this year,” Coghill said.

Arlington, Lakewood, Marysville Getchell, Marysville-Pilchuck and Stanwood continue playing against each other this week. Lakewood hosted the other four schools May 3 at Battle Creek Golf Course after press time and Marysville Getchell hosts the other schools on May 5 at Cedarcrest Golf Course.