LONGVIEW – Jack Whealdon had just led off the 1A District IV golf tournament with a one-under par 71 to lead all comers by three strokes and was primed to cruise to the title when disaster struck in the form of a double-bogey on the second hole on day two of the 36-hole event.

Double-bogeys are fairly common in high school golf, but what was extremely rare was Justin Allenbaugh of Montesano, who had trailed Whealdon by three strokes, as he fired not one, but two eagles to take the lead by the fifth hole at Three Rivers Golf Course Wednesday.

Whealdon, a sophomore, then took charge of the match and the tournament by sinking three consecutive birdies on holes six, seven, and eight. He passed Allenbaugh and was able to hold the lead on the back nine to shoot a sparkling 70 for a championship score of 141, three strokes under par for 36 pressure-packed holes. Allenbaugh was second with 175 and Nick Neisler of Stevenson claimed third with a 148 score.

The number of state berths at the 1A level will be up in the air until spring, but Todd Oakes staked a very solid claim to what is hoped to be one of those invitations by firing a steady 154 score, good enough for fourth place in District IV as he carded 75 and 79 scores. Tyler Johnson shot an 83 and an 84 for seventh place with a 167 to himself just beyond the probable cut for state, but he made a very positive contribution to the Fishermen’s team score.

Tanner Bonawitz earned points for Ilwaco, who won the team District IV crown, by shooting 97 and 90, good for a 187 score and 12th place. “The weather was great, the course was in great condition, and our kids played great as well,” a happy Coach Dan Whealdon said of the championship squad’s play.

Team scores are counted by giving the first place golfer 30 points, second earns 25, third gets 20 team points and so on down to 20th place receiving one point, which is the WIAA’s method of scoring golf competition. Jared Wanke shot a 108 on day one of the tournament and missed the cut for the Fishermen, while Adam Bundy was unable to participate because of academic ineligibility.

Ilwaco had 71 team points, LaCenter was second with 62, Montesano third with 48, Stevenson fourth with 36 and Rochester rounded out the team totals with 15 as they were the only five of 14 Trico and Evergreen League schools to play fall golf. The champion Fishermen will be off now until they play four matches in late April and May to get tuned up for the state tournament at North Bellingham Course.