POD play continues, Chiefs boys finish third

PASCO - A strong 2011 golf season continued on Monday for the Moses Lake Chiefs boys golf team.

At Sun Willows Golf Course (par 72), the Chiefs ended up tied for second with a score of 323 with Walla Walla in the Columbia Basin Big Nine POD No. 3 as both teams fell to winners Richland (301).

Moses Lake remains in third place after the three pods with a score of 15.5 points, just behind Walla Walla's 16.5.

Richland has won all three competitions and sets the pace with a maximum of 21 points.

Moses Lake received a strong overall performance in Pasco as Randy McNair set the tone with a 76, good enough to finish tied for second with Richland's Jack Elen. The Bombers' Jeff Marcum won the event with a 71.

Gabe Porter of the Chiefs shot 78 to end up in a three-way tie for seventh place and Tanner Montgomery shot an 84.

Nick Sutherland was the last team score qualifier with an 85. Brenden Cox shot an 87 and Austin Rodgers ended up with an 89.

"This was the first time in a long time that we had all golfers finish under 90," Moses Lake head coach J.R. Cox said. "I was very impressed with Nick's 85. He is working very hard to get better and is now seeing the results of that hard work. Randy is really coming on strong as he and Gabe are now tied in points for the league standings. 

Porter and McNair are tied for sixth in the CBBN POD standings with 103 points each.

"Our team is really starting to compete against the other teams and they are really starting to compete against themselves as well," coach Cox said. "This only makes ss better over time. Right now we have five golfers who are in good position to make districts and I hope we can get 1 more in. Only the top 33 and ties make districts based on the pods."

POD No. 4 is Monday at Richland.