Gazette-Times Sports editor

Willie Mathews likes to play golf because he enjoys being on the golf course.

“It’s all fun, the Crescent Valley High senior said. “I play this game for fun. I don’t play it because I want to get mad when I play bad. I play for fun because I love playing.”

But while Mathews tries to shrug off any pressure he might possibly be feeling, there will be a little added incentive heading into today’s 5A state golf tournament at Trysting Tree .

You see, Mathews has some big shoes to fill. That’s because the last two years, a CV golfer has captured an individual state title.

Those two champions — Brandon Taylor and Justin Kadin — are two of Mathews’ closest friends. And they make sure to remind him they own titles and he doesn’t.

So pressure to join the club may not be the right word, but Mathews certainly has a strong desire to make it a three-peat for CV players.

“It’s more of a rivalry,” Mathews said Friday afternoon before heading out to the play the back nine at Trysting Tree, where he will start at 7:30 this morning.

“It’s one of those things, ‘Hey, guess what I’ve got, a state championship. Hey, guess what I’ve got, a state championship. What do you have Willie? Oh, nothing.’

“I want to be the guy that says, ‘What? I have one too.’ ”

Mathews has as good a shot as anyone, especially with the advantage of playing on his home course, one he said he’s played a thousand times.

“I know every nook and cranny of this golf course so when I get in trouble, I know what to do about it,” he said.

Mathews is coming off a district title last week, finishing the two-day tournament with a 3-under-par 141. He shot a 71 the first day and came back with a 70 the final day.

Kadin won his title at Trysting Tree last year with a 136. Mathews’ performance last week was better than the runner-up at state last year.

While Mathews has visions of an individual title, he is also looking to bring home a repeat team title.

Taylor and Kadin were key components to last year’s title run, but the Raiders have been able to remain top challengers, despite their absence.

They took the first-day lead at the district tournament by five strokes over West Albany, then lost by two when the Bulldogs had a strong performance the second day.

Both teams should be near the top of the standings, along with Bend and Wilsonville.

All four teams have two golfers they can count on consistently to put up low numbers. What it will boil down to is the three, four and five players.

“It’s going to need eight good scores to win it,” Mathews said. “It doesn’t really matter if it comes from our five guy, four guy or three guy. Mike (Ulstad) and I need to play good both days and three, four and five each need to play at least one good day so someone else can back them up and throw out their bad score.”

CV won with a 591 last year, including a 291 on the final day that included Kadin’s 66. The Raiders shot a 297 the first day of districts, and Mathews thinks the team can go lower.

“I think we could put together a round that might be in the 280s,” he said. “If we all play lights out, I think we can do it.

“Nobody is really clearly better than everyone. It’s kind of a dogfight for first.

“I think it will be a real good fight to the end and I think everyone is going to come out and play hard.”

Santiam Christian’s Erik Hellesto will compete in the 3A/2A/1A tournament at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell.

Girls

There will be a new champion on the 5A girls side for sure, and probably a much closer race for the title than last year.

Summit stormed to a 45-stroke lead after the first day last year and cruised to 98-stroke win. But only one player is back this year so that leaves the door open for the likes of Bend and West Albany, who finished second and third, respectively, last year.

West Albany is coming off its second straight district title, and pulled away the second day to win by 25 strokes over Crescent Valley.

The Raiders were within 13 strokes after the first day, and both teams had stronger days the second day at the OGA Course in Woodburn. That could bode well as that is where the state tournament will be played.

CV and West Albany each tee off at 7:30 a.m. Three Corvallis players are also in the field.

CV’s Hayley Brown is coming off her best round ever, an 80 last Tuesday that helped her make a push at medalist honors. Brown slowed the last four holes and West Albany’s Katie Ortman was able to pull away for the win.

CV shot a 373 the second day after carding a 391 the first day. That experience could help make a push toward the top of the leaderboard for Brown and her teammates.

The Raiders placed fifth last year behind Summit, Bend, West Albany and Thurston. CV’s district qualifying score of 764 was 34 strokes better than its performance at state last year.