This past week in Kenniwick, the Orcas Viking golf team finished fourth in state competition out of 20 teams. Playing on a short course with a par 65, the three young men representing Orcas all made the 50 percent cut on the first day of play.

“Shortage in yardage does not necessarily mean that it’s an easy course,” Coach Bobby Olmsted said. “I think my players might have initially underestimated the difficulty of the course, and their play the first day reflects that. They did, however, all make it to the next round on Friday and that’s what counts.”

Taylor Diepenbrock and Alan Coe both shot 83 while Henry Bredouw shot an 86 and just made the cut. The tournament started out with 80 players and by the end of the day, 40 players were left, including the three Orcas players.

“On day two, my boys improved. Diepenbrock shot a 75 and Coe shot a 77, and Bredouw shot 79.”

This put Diepenbrock 12th overall, Coe 17th overall, and Bredouw 27th overall, and fourth in state team-wise.

“Had we played better the first day, we would have placed higher overall,” Olmsted said. “But it was a tough little course. We had 30 mph winds and we had to get our heads right back into it. Overall I am very pleased. To have a small school like ours go out there and do well, especially after the first day, when we were in 13th place. To go from 13th to 4th is a great achievement.”

The Orcas boys golf team is the district champion for the second year, and they came in fourth in state overall.

The Awards banquet is on Sunday, June 7, at Benson Hall, at 6:30 p.m.