Mule golfers win district title, head to state tournament

The Wahkiakum Mules recaptured the District Championship Trophy for the first time since 2013 and for the 7th time since their inception in 2007. More importantly--for the first time since golf program power houses Ilwaco and Life Christian Academy have dropped down from Class 1A to Class 2B, a significant accomplishment for Mules’ golf.

Returning state champion Blake Kukula of Ilwaco three-peated his district title, shooting 75 81 for a total 156. However Mule Tyler St. Onge shot 77 on day two to finish ahead of Kukula, another significant accomplishment for the Mules.Tyler scored 83 on day one for total 160, second place overall.

The Mules only had four of their regular varsity players available because of the April 19 five-car traffic accident. Two players were not cleared medically in time for district play nor has the head coach yet been cleared to coach. This meant each Mule would have to contribute and they did. Zach Johnston found his game the second day, posting 93 86 and finished fifth. Bryce Good never found his A game but just kept grinding and shot 90 96 to finish sixth. Freshman Logan LaBerge shot 96 92 and found himself in a playoff spot for the eighth and final spot at state. After tying the first playoff hole, Logon made a 20-foot par putt on the second hole, to punch his ticket to state. How exciting!

The Washington State Golf Championships are really two events, individual being the first event and team scoring being the second event. The latter has a requirement of at least two or more players placing on the second day of the event. The significance of this is that because the Mules claimed four of the eight allocated district slots for state, no other team from the Southwest District claimed more than one slot. This means that returning team state champion Ilwaco, Life Christian, Kalama and Adna are already eliminated from team competition.

Perennial power houses Colfax, DeSales and Pomeroy are three of the five other 2B schools who, with the Mules, will compete for team trophies. The key is that only players that make the first day cut will be able to contribute to team points.

The Mules have a strong challenge before them to make the top 20 day one cut. Their seedings at state are St. Onge 8th, Johnston 26th, Good 32nd and LaBerge 38th.

Team scores at district were 1. Wahkiakum 68.5, 2. Ilwaco 45, 3. Kalama 41, 4. Life Christian 39, and 5. Adna 14.5.