Kenedee Peters makes the shot of the tournament to win third 2A state medalist honor

RICHLAND — Kenedee Peters not only won her third 2A state medalist honor in the past four years, she hit the shot of the tournament on the finishing hole, leaving no questions asked as to why she’ll be playing Pac-12 golf next fall.

The Tiger senior stood over her ball in the fairway on the 450-yard, par-5 18th hole at Horn Rapids Golf Course Wednesday afternoon. Since she took a seven-stroke lead into the final hole of her high school career, the deal was sealed long ago. She just needed to put the finishing touch on a spectacular career.

“My range finder said 243 (yards to the green),” she said with a smile and look in her eye that said, let ‘er buck.

Peters, who a week ago was beating college and professional players at the U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Rainier Golf & Country Club in Seattle where she finished 13th, grabbed a 3-wood out of the bag. Being in the final group of the day, there was a large contingent surrounding the green. Peters put the swing of the day and the ball seemed to track like a missile, took one bounce and settled some 30 feet from the flag stick located in the lower, left side of the green.

Had it been the U.S, Open, the gallery would have rewarded her with a howl and applause that reverberated through the countryside, but apparently high school girls are a little tougher to impress. Peters high-fived with a tournament official who recognized her greatness as she made the final walk up the 18th fairway for the last time in a spectacular high school career. The Tiger senior, who won the 2A state medalist honor as both a freshman and junior, gently sent the putt down a slippery slope to within inches of the cup.

The only thing that would have made the event even more spectacular was if it would have somehow broke just a little more for an eagle. But as it was, Peters finished her career with a 76 and a runaway two-day total of 148. Her playing partners, Jada French of Bellingham and Kallie Sakamoto of Washougal, finished in a tie for second at 156.

But the day belonged to the Tiger senior, who became the first golfer in Ephrata school history to win three individual state championships.

“It means a lot. I told myself that I was going to enjoy this tournament and have as much fun as possible. I got a little stressed on the front and had to give myself a good talking to,” said Peters, who made the turn at plus-5. “But then I settled in and was able to play more relaxed.”

There was another nice moment inside after the awards ceremony when East Valley junior Morgan Baum, who beat Peters for the 2A state medalist title two years ago in an epic showdown at Columbia Point, invited her friendly rival over to where her family was gathered. There were hugs and photos taken. No one besides Baum and Peters has placed the first-place medal over their neck in the past four years. It was a nice send off to the end of an era, and maybe the changing of the guard.

Ephrata’s Emmie Dilling finished 41st with a two-day total of 206.

Team scores - 1. Sammamish, 143. 2. Bellingham, 97.50. 3. Liberty, 83.5. 4. Ellensburg, 53.50. 5. Ephrata, 50. 6. Fife, 28. 7. White River 25.50. 8. Columbia River, 22.50.

Top 10 - 1. Kenedee Peters, Ephrata, 72-76-148. 2. (tie) Jada French, Bellingham, 77-79-156, Kallie Sakamoto, Washougal, 78-78-156. 4. Morgan Baum, East Valley, 80-82-162. 5. (tie) Sophia Schmidt, Bellingham, 80-83-163, Sarah Shea, Sequim, 83-80-163. 7. Jade Ming Lynden, 81-85-166. 8. Mehr Luthra, Sammamish, 84-86-170. 9. (tie) Kathryn Crimp Ellensburg, 88-83-171, Casey Spurr, Cedarcrest, 85-86-171.

Local finishers - 41. Emmie Dilling, Ephrata, 97-109-206