Boys Golf / Metro League -- West Seattle Senior Surprises -- Wong Wins Metro Title, Then Qualifies For State

After opening with an unspectacular 81 on the first day of the Metro League golf tournament last week, Tyler Wong was thinking of surviving, not winning.

"I was just playing to qualify for district," the West Seattle senior admitted.

Well, look who won the tournament - Wong.

On a day when first-round leaders slid backward, Wong shot a 1-under-par 70 at Jefferson Park and won the tournament by two strokes over Lakeside freshman Reid Rader.

Until he reached a logjam of golfers on the 14th hole, where players exchanged scores and gossip, Wong didn't realize he was in the hunt for the championship. He bogeyed the par-4, but that was a good score on Friday because the cup had been cut into a steep hill on the green. At least one golfer 10-putted, and some 7-putted.

Wong's father, Roland, who teaches math and health at Inglemoor High School in Kenmore, showed up after work Friday hoping that his son was playing well enough to qualify for district. A coach told him Tyler had shot 2-under on the front nine and was in contention.

Many golf parents don't follow their children around the course because both parties get nervous. So Roland Wong sneaked some glimpses of his son on the final three holes and knew from the way he was walking that it was a good day.

"You can observe how they are doing by how they walk, and he was walking with confidence," the father said.

Once Tyler finished the round, it became a mathematical waiting game because the first-round leaders were still on the course.

The father decided to wait at home and Tyler walked in the door with the best possible news.

The only disappointment of the day was that Tyler's younger brother, Travis, a West Seattle freshman who had opened with an 80, shot 92 and missed the cut for district.

The victory was the biggest in the life of the 17-year-old, who also plays shooting guard on the Indians' basketball team. Both teams are coached by Dan Peterson.

Yesterday, Wong safely qualified for next spring's 3A state tournament by shooting 78 to tie for third in the one-day district tournament at Rainier Golf and Country Club. Rader won with a 75.

Wong has worked in the country club's bag room for about a year. His handicap has gone from a 12 to a 4 in that span. Pro Tony Wilkins has helped him with his game, and Wong has been able to play the course a lot.

Working at the golf club is a perfect job for the Metro champ.

"If you ever sensed a kid who loves the game, it's him," said his father, a West Seattle alumnus who is proud to see a public-school triumph in a sport dominated by private schools.

"I've never had to say to him, `You have to practice.' What I say to him is, `Tyler, does the word over-do mean anything to you?' "

Tyler will start a summer day by hitting balls into a net in the backyard for 60-90 minutes, play an early nine holes at Rainier, work his shift then play nine more holes.

"On a day off, he sometimes will play 36 holes," his father said.

It paid off last Friday. Next spring, it might pay off at state.