Keaton Burnett

New coach Keaton Burnett is excited to take the helm of the boys and girls golf squads at Ilwaco High School.

He began his new assignment working with three girls and three boys while waiting to confirm if one or two others who had expressed interest were going to follow through.

Ilwaco boys golf

March 23 (a) Winlock, with Adna, North Beach

March 28 (h) vs. Wahkiakum, North Beach

April 11 (a) Adna, with Toutle

April 13 (a) North Beach, with Winlock

April 18 (a) Kalama, with Wahkiakum, Toutle

Times TBA; home matches at Surfside G.C.

Ilwaco girls golf

March 22 (h) Hoquiam

March 29 (a) La Center

April 12 (a) Adna

April 14 (a) Kings Way

April 19 (h) Elma

April 21 (h) La Center

April 26 (h) Kingsway

May 5 (a) Montesano)

Times TBA; home matches at Surfside G.C.

The spring golf season will conclude the senior year of Gabby Bell. With her will be junior Zoey Zuern and sophomore Samantha Grote.

For the boys, Noah Cherry is the lone senior. Two freshmen, Korbyn Tucker and Blake Bell, join him on the squad.

The turnout means the coach will have one eye on this year’s calendar and another on subsequent years.

“I hope to build the freshmen and sophomores into competent and well-rounded players for the future of the program,” said Burnett.

He wants to blend a cerebral and practical approach.

“I am very excited. This is my first ever official coaching job, so I have a lot to learn and, from what it sounds like, some big shoes to fill..”

He was an enthusiastic student competitor for Woodland High School, benefiting from living about five minutes from the Lewis River Golf Course where he later worked to pay for his studies at Washington State University’s Vancouver campus.

“When I was in high school we always knew how strong Ilwaco’s program was and how well they placed,” he said. “I am excited be a part of this team and rebuild the program after the instability of covid. Golf is a great game for students and teaches life-long lessons about honor, respect, self-reliance and self-esteem.”

His love of golf has prompted significant travel. “I have also volunteered for LPGA tournaments in the past and traveled to Ireland to play golf and had the opportunity to watch the pros play in the Open Championship in 2017 at Royal Berkdale in northwest England.”

As a graphic designer, he believes his professional skills may help. “I hope to combine both experiences in a way that can benefit their overall swing and knowledge of the game.”

While new to living on the Peninsula, he is no stranger. “I used to fish for salmon off the jetty with my dad as a kid and traveled to Ilwaco multiple times a year,” he recalled. “As a family, we would often take a vacation to Ocean Park and stay at the Surfside Inn and play golf at Surfside Golf Course. I’m excited to get out there again and play — it’s been a long time.

Team members see Montesano as a key threat for the girls’ squad and Adna as a powerful force on the boys’ side.

The season was starting with a Longview jamboree hosted by his alma mater, and a girls’ home clash with Hoquiam before taking three road trips then home action April 19 and two subsquent dates. The boys have home matches March 28 and April 20.

The coach believes in looking toward the positives.

“As an adult, I can see how valuable my time in the Woodland golf program was for me and I would like to provide the same experience for them,” he said. “My motto is to never have a ‘0-percent day,’ for both me and the golfers. I’m excited to see what we can achieve both on a personal and overall team basis.”