MIHS girls golf wins KingCo tournament

The Snohomish Golf Course hosted and saw the Mercer Island girls golf team win another KingCo title on Monday.

The Snohomish Golf Course hosted and saw the Mercer Island girls golf team win another KingCo title on Monday.

The Islanders won with a final team score of 424, with the next closest competitor, Interlake High School, 60 strokes behind.

“We’re feeling wonderful about it,” said head coach Don Papasedero following the win.

Chelsea Saelee won the tournament overall with a 78, and all six of the team members who competed qualified for next Monday’s district tournament at Riverbend Golf Course in Kent. The top 19 from districts will qualify for the state match in the Tri-Cities the following week.

“I think if we have a normal game next week, we’ll be able to get them all in,” said the coach of qualifying for state.

Haley Chinn finished the KingCo tournament in third place, shooting an 81, while Sarah Peterson was fifth overall with an 87 and Kayce Ogishima finished seventh with an 88. Kristen Numata was 10th overall with a 90, and Jackie Pearson finished 13th, shooting 98.

“Sarah and Kayce had personal, career bests,” said Papasedero.

Numata, the team captain, on Monday was all about making it to districts.

“I feel like I did alright,” she said. “I’m just pleased to make it to districts.”

She said before next week, she wants to stay focused and keep her momentum so as not to “lose her game.”