Wahluke golf program grows

MATTAWA — “I am excited,” veteran Wahluke High School coach Tiffany Hedman said last week about the new season.

Hedman has reason. She has her largest turnout ever, with 17 players. The girls team is full with 13 players (they need five). However, there may not be any team scoring for the boys. They are right at four members.

“We had our first non-league match Thursday,” Hedman said, “and it was the first nine holes most of the kids have played all year.”

The three-way match at Desert Aire Golf Course included teams from Ellensburg and Royal.

Alex Bangs shot 56 for nine holes to place third among the girls. Esmeralda Lagunas shot 58 for fourth among the girls.

“This team is quite a bit bigger than the teams I have had the last few years,” said Hedman, a junior high teacher.

She is getting help. Justin Hjelm, the face of golf at the high school, was brought on as a part-time practice coach last year.

“He has a great rapport with the kids. He has been a huge factor in helping recruit kids for golf,” Hedman said.

The Warriors have 13 girls and four boys on our team this season. Four of them — Esmeralda Lagunas, Itzel Guerrero (juniors), Najavy Ramirez and Pedro Mendoza (sophomores) — played last year.

“We have added Alex Bangs, a junior who is new to Wahluke, but has played golf at her previous high school,” Hedman said. “The rest of my team is new to competitive golf. It's a great group of kids, and both Coach Hjelm and I are very excited to have them all out.”

Wahluke scores at DA:

• Alex Bangs 56
• Esmeralda Lagunas 58
• Pedro Mendoza 63
• Itzel Guerrero 64
• Carmen Aguilar 68
• Fernando Gutierrez 72
• Alberto Valdovinos 73
• Athena Woodridge 73
• Andy Martinez 73
• Itzel Ruiz 75
• Sandra Rivera 75
• Karina Caro 76
• Briseida Gutierrez 81
• Dulce Quevedo 81
• Genesis Rodriguez 81
• Sarai Vivar 81