Crescent Valley boys got a sampling of state field at invitational tourney

By Steve Gress

Gazette-Times sports editor

Crescent Valley High's boys golf team got a taste for what the 5A state meet might be like a few weeks back.

The Raiders competed in the 24-team Oregon High School Invitational, which had a number of top teams from all four golf classifications.

The Raiders finished fourth overall, and were topped by two teams they will compete against today and Tuesday.

Bend finished with a 304, the second time this season the Lava Bears topped the Raiders. Marshfield was a stroke back at 305 with the Raiders at 307.

However, CV shot a 303 and 301 at last week's Mid-Willamette Conference district tournament.

The site of that tournament - Trysting Tree Golf Club - and the state meet are the same, giving the Raiders a bit of a home course advantage.

The first round of play tees off at 7:30 a.m. with players going off on holes No. 1 and No. 10.

CV starts on No. 1 and will be in the same playing group as Bend and Marshfield.

MWC district champion and defending 4A (large school) state champion Brandon Taylor is first off for the Raiders at 8:42 a.m.

Taylor won the district title with rounds of 69 and 75 last week.

Justin Kadin, who shot 73 and 73 for second last week, is next off at 8:51. Willie Mathews, who rebounded from an 81 in the first round last week with a 71 the second day, goes next and is followed by Tyler Despain and Matt Geniza.

Cleveland, Ashland, Wilsonville, Madison, Eagle Point, Glencoe, Springfield, Hermiston and West Albany are also in the field, as well as a smattering of individual golfers.

Wilsonville shot a 317 at the Oregon High School Invitational.

"They have to shoot in the 290s, which they are capable of doing," CV coach Jason Laughery said last week of what the Raiders need to do. "That's going to be close for the state championship."

Girls

Just getting to the state tournament was reward enough for the CV girls.

The Raiders, who finished second behind district champion West Albany last week, begin the tournament on the 10th hole at 1:09 p.m. when Hayley Brown tees off. Also competing for the Raiders will be Caitlyn Doyle (1:18 p.m.), Elizabeth Kim (1:27 p.m.), Jessica Kim (1:36 p.m.) and Shannon McCoy (1:45 p.m.)

Playing at Trysting Tree should take a little pressure off.

"It's great because it makes it one less thing to worry about," Brown said.

Corvallis High has two individuals competing with Katie Zajicek teeing off at 1 p.m. on No. 1 and Megan Mattravers going at 1:09 p.m. on No. 1.

Other teams competing include West Albany, Glencoe, Crater, Cleveland, Thurston, Summit, Ashland, Wilsonville, Marshfield and Bend.