Ephrata's Peters leads 2A girls state tournament, Othello's Azevedo 10th in boys event

RICHLAND — This is Washington State University commit Kenedee Peters’ last time around as a high school player and the two-time state medalist from Ephrata is putting as much effort into having fun as she is in winning the 2A state tournament at Horn Rapids Golf Course in Richland.

Peters, who was the state medalist as a freshman and a junior, shot an opening day 72 to take a five-stroke lead on the Keith Foster designed desert course with even-par. Jada French of Bellingham (77) and Kallie Sakamoto, Washougal, (78) are within striking distance going into Wednesday’s final round.

“This whole past week, I’ve been talking with my teammates about how much fun we want this week to be. No matter what happens, I want to make sure I leave here with the best memory of my senior state (tournament),” Peters said. “Our focus as a team is enjoying ourselves and having fun.”

Peters was solid tee to green, driving the ball as well as she has all season. She had three birdie holes and struggled on the dogleg 423-yard par-4 fourth hole where she lost her drive right into the sagebrush and had to scramble. But other than that, the description of the day was “solid.”

Where last year, Peters scrambled through the first nine holes at Indian Canyon, making the turn seven strokes behind the leader. Peters found the groove early at Horn Rapids, beginning with her tee shot.

“I was driving the ball fantastic today,” she said. “It was the best I’ve ever felt with a driver in my hand. I was spot on with my approach shots, so everything was really pretty solid today.”

Peters said she intends to leave nothing to chance on the final round of her high school career.

“I don’t have a number (I intend to shoot),” said Peters, who finished in a tie for 13th in the U.S. Open sectional qualifier last week at Rainier Golf & Country Club in Seattle. “I’m just going to go out and play the very best I can. As far as I’m concerned, no one is going to be able to chase me down. Self expectations wear on me a lot, but it’s been something I’ve had to teach myself to deal with and handle. I just really, really focus on playing my game. I’ve put in the work and it’s very cool (to see the rewards).”

Top 10

Kenedee Peters, Ephrata, 72; 2. Jada French, Bellingham, 77; 3. Kallie Sakamoto, Washougal, 78; 4. (tie) Morgan Baum, East Valley, Sophia Schmidt, Bellingham, 80; 6. Jade Ming, Lynden, 81; 7. Sara Shea, Sequim, 83; 8. Mehr Luthra, Sammamish, 84; 9. Casey Spurr, Cedarcrest, 85; 10. Mikaela Ikeda, Sammamish, 87.

Other locals

33. Emmie Dilling, Ephrata, 97. 48. (tie) Payton Hagy, Ephrata, Stacia Sarty, 103. 60. Chloe Mickelsen, Ephrata, 106. 73. Isabel Buchert, Ephrata, 114

2A boys state tournament

RICHLAND — Defending 2A state medalist Patrick Azevedo of Othello shot a first-day 75 to remain in the hunt on Tuesday in a tournament where six strokes separate the top 13 golfers at Columbia Point Golf Course.

Dylan Apodaca of Selah and Liberty’s Chase McIntosh got out fast with 3-under-par 69, but the leaderboard looks like Seattle traffic with a jam at the top. Azevedo, who led start-to-finish a year ago in winning the state medalist as a freshman, sits in a tie for 10th.

“I was a little disappointed. I had a couple of mental mistakes, but I’m OK,” Azevedo said. “It’s not an easy course, but you can score on it if you’re long off the tee.”

The risk-reward at Columbia Pointe favors a long hitter, but course management on and around the greens is the ultimate decider when it comes to going low.

“The greens are pretty quick, but I would say chipping is the toughest thing out there,” Azevedo said. “Course management is critical. There are some greens where you have to be very precise because of the augulation on the green. It can cost you if you don’t put it where you need to put it.

“I’m just going to go out there tomorrow and give it everything I have. I don’t see anybody coming back, I’m going to go out and chase them down, which is the plan.”

Ephrata’s Jacob Rawley (79) and Jayce Moore (80) go into the second day in 20th and 26th, respectively. Quincy’s Trajan Trevino (94) missed the cut.

Top 10

(tie) Dylan Apodaca, Selah, Chase McIntosh, Liberty, 69; 2. (tie) 3. Cade Bringhurst, Ridgefield, Conrad Brown, Burlington-Edison, Ian Hakeman, Sehome, 71; 6. Cooper Franklin, White River, 72; 7. (tie) Tyler Cassell, Black Hills, Paul Jacobsen, Sequim, Blake Wiker, Sequim, 74; 10. (tie) Patrick Azevedo, Othello, Andrew Kim, W.F. West, Ryan Park, Sammamish, Troy Parrish, R.A. Long, 75. Other locals

20. Jacob Rawley, Ephrata, 79; 26. Jayce Moore, Ephrata, 80; 39. Jonathan Ozuna, Othello, 87. 43. Isaiah Garza, Othello, 85; 67. Trajan Trevino, Quincy, 94; 72. Ty Smith, Ephrata, 100.

4A girls state tournament

At Sun Meadows Golf Course in Pasco, Moses Lake’s Kerisa Sanislo finished with a round of 104 to finish 79th.

4A boys

54. Sam Roeber, 81, Moses Lake

1A boys

60. Jacob Joslin, 95, Royal

1B/2B/1A girls

50. Kaylee Janett, 104, Royal