State golf primer: Bellarmine Prep girls seeking state record 7th consecutive state team title

Tuesday-Wednesday

Class 4A boys at Meadow Springs, Richland

Class 4A girls at Sun Willows, Pasco

Class 3A boys at Creek at Qualchan, Spokane

Class 3A girls at Indian Canyon, Spokane

Class 2A boys at Horn Rapids, Richland

Class 2A girls at Columbia Point, Richland

Class 1A boys and girls at Liberty Lake, Spokane

Class 1B/2B boys and girls at MeadowWood, Spokane

Tee times: Tuesday first round are from 7:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., except for 1A girls (11:40 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) and 1B/2B girls (9:45 a.m.-11:10 a.m.). Wednesday final round tee times based on cut numbers at discretion of host site.

DEFENDING TEAM CHAMPIONS

4A – Bellarmine Prep

3A – Bainbridge

2A – Sammamish

1A – Seattle Academy

1B/2B – Colfax.

DEFENDING GIRLS TEAM CHAMPIONS

4A – Bellarmine Prep

3A – Mercer Island

2A – Ephrata

1A – King’s

1B/2B – Pomeroy.

RETURNING INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS

4A boys – Zach Overstreet, Issaquah, sr.; 3A boys – Sam Warkentin, Bainbridge, sr.; 2A girls – Kenedee Peters, Ephrata, so.; 1A boys – Nick Baker, Cle Elum/Roslyn, jr.

THE SKINNY

Boys – Bellarmine Prep won its ninth 4A title by the closest margin in state-tournament history last season – 93½-92½ points over Issaquah. And the Lions should be right there to repeat, led by standouts Joe Highsmith, a Southern Methodist commit, R.J. Manke and Joe Lyon. … Overstreet won the 4A boys individual title in dramatic fashion last season. He birdied five of his final six holes, then won a sudden-death playoff. He is vying to become the first 4A champion to defend the title since Kamiakin’s Chris Johnson did in 1990. … Olympia’s Riley Killip is the reigning 4A Narrows winner. He set the tournament scoring mark at 12-under par 132. … Most would consider Warkentin the best overall golfer in the state. The University of Washington signee is the favorite in 3A.

Girls – Yawn if you’ve heard this before — Bellarmine Prep is still the 4A favorite. If the Lions win their seventh consecutive state title, they will establish the longest winning streak in state history. Right now, they are tied with Bellingham (2002-07, 2009-14), which had their latest one snapped last season by Ephrata in 2A. Lions senior Tessa George is the top returning state finisher in 4A. She tied for fourth last season. … Peters is the reigning Washington State Golf Association girls player of the year as well as the defending 2A champion. She won by 19 strokes last season as a ninth grader.

Tickets: Admission is free.

This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 11:45 PM with the headline "State golf primer: Bellarmine Prep girls seeking state record 7th consecutive state team title."