KELSO – Ryan Kukula didn’t let being a freshman stop him from coolly firing a 37 and tying three others for medalist honors in a three-school golf match at Three Rivers Course in Kelso Tuesday. The Fishermen competed against some heavy hitters in the high school golf ranks on what was a gorgeous, almost “too hot” day with temperatures close to 90 degrees.

Skyview (4A) won the match with a score of 192, Kelso (3A) was second with a 204, and Ilwaco placed third with a 226. Other scorers for the Fishermen were Todd Oakes 43, Patrick Whealdon 44, Casey Marsh 50, and Tyler Johnson 52. Jack Whealdon was disqualified. Skyview JVs defeated Kelso 161-185.

“Kevin Kadow of Skyview accidently hit Jack’s golf ball on a hole and Jack assumed Kadow’s golf ball was his own, so he played it,” Coach Dan Whealdon explained. “After their tee shots on the next hole, Jack discovered the mistake and reported it, resulting in both players being disqualified. This is a wakeup call for us-a mistake like that, even though it was accidental, could happen at district and cost someone a trip to state.”

The inadvertent error and honest reporting by Jack Whealdon negated his one-under medalist round of 36 the Ilwaco junior fired on the par 37 course. Coach Whealdon said, “As a team we need to find a few more fairways with our tee shots. I told the guys to give up some distance for accuracy. At practice Wednesday several players re-discovered their three irons.”

On Monday at Tri-Mountain Course the JV and middle school golfers played against LaCenter. Jared Wanke shot 53, Matthew Lewis fired a 60, and David Lewis and Elias Bloom each carded scores of 62. Seventh grade Ross Kukula shot a brilliant 46, Clark Wilson was close behind with 48, and Anthony Yoder scored a 50, including an eagle on the final hole.

“Jared’s score showed me that we have seven golfers competing for six spots on the varsity and I was very pleased with the outstanding play of our seventh graders,” Whealdon praised.