By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

KEIZER, Ore.–  Cascade’s Maddie Dustin didn’t relinquish her lead in Day 2 of the 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 2 Girls Golf Tournament at McNary Golf Course on Tuesday.  If anything, her score was better.  One stroke better in fact as the Cougar junior finished the two-day tournament with an incredible score of 147 to take the Tournament win.  Winning the event by 18 strokes as she began to start finding a groove coming down the stretch on the back 9.

For Dustin, same as it was Monday for Day 1 in Keizer, putting was the driving force in her success with her driver coming around late.  

“Same as yesterday.  My putting was great, my other shots weren’t doing great.  I figured out my driver  towards the end, but putting was the key to the success today,” Dustin said.  

But nonetheless, winning the District Title is a pretty cool feat as the junior will look to build upon her 14th-place finish in 6A last year as Dustin returns to the State Tournament this time at the 4A/3A/2A/1A Classification.

“It feels great.  I feel like I worked really hard for this and this is showing what I can do,” Dustin said of winning the individual District Title.  “(This year) I think I’m less nervous.  I’m used to being around people that are watching me and everything.  Having the crowd, so I’m not as nervous as I used to be.”

La Pine went on to win the Team District Title.  Twin Sisters Kylee and Hailey Smith went two-three, Jaida Crowley going fifth and Tess Shipman was eighth, Kylee making the move to the top group for Day 2 after shooting an 84 on Day 1 as the junior Hawks shot an 165 in the tournament.  Anchoring a La Pine team that finished with a team score of 758 who are now looking to carry this success to the State Tournament at Trysting Tree Golf Course in Corvallis on May 15 and 16.

“I think I did pretty good, it’s two of my best scores.  This is the first time we’ve ever gone to State as a team.  It feels pretty good.  We’re going to take this and remember this for the rest of our lives,” Kylee Smith.  “Just going out to the golf course everyday, getting hacks and everything.”

Freshman Alex Willcoxen joins Dustin as the other individual State Qualifier after finishing fourth in the two-day District Meet, shooting a two-day total of 187 in the Tournament.  It was Day 2 that was Willcoxen’s strongest as she shot a 91 round, five-strokes better than her total from Day 1 as her mental approach to the round was spot on.  Something that she’s hoping to carry over to the State Meet here next week.

“A lot, I had faith in myself and that helped a lot,” said Willcoxen.  “Just knowing that I can do it and believing in myself.  I played a lot better today and I think I did better in keeping my nerves  down and I think I overall knew I needed to do better today and I made it happen.”

Harrisburg finished Runner-Up in the Team Points and also qualified for the State Meet as a team out of the District.  Peyton Tayor led the Eagles with a 206 two-day total.  From around Salem, Blanchet’s Denavae Randell led the Cavalier squad with a 226 two-day total.  North Marion’s Riley Patzer shot a two-day score of 220.  Stayton’s Laurel Bjornstedt led the Eagles with a two-day total of 225 and Amity’s Kenzie Kauer shot a 244 over the Tournament.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald