Boys golf: Skyline's Hambleton edges Lakeside's Rader for title
Hambleton, a sophomore at Skyline, used a rather unconventional six-birdie, six-bogey effort for the low score yesterday at Snohomish Golf Course. His 72 was enough to edge last year's district and state champion, Lakeside's Reid Rader, who finished 1-over par.
Rader, Madison Hammond, Evan Hall and Metro League champ Pat Cooper helped Lakeside win the district title for the second year in a row.
Did Hambleton, the leader after a front-nine 35, feel any pressure playing with a lead?
"Yeah, I think I choked a little bit down the stretch, made some bogies. I bogeyed 17, but I had a nice birdie on 16."
The birdie on the par-four 16th was crucial. After bogies on 14 and 15, it gave Hambleton a much-needed three-stroke cushion over Rader, who bogeyed 16.
Playing in the final group behind Hambleton, Rader made par on the 17th and came up with a clutch birdie on the par-five 18th, but it was not enough to avoid his second runner-up finish in the past five days. He was second in the Metro League tournament.
"It's a little frustrating," said the University of Washington-bound senior, who will try to defend his state title next May. "I came out here hoping to win, expecting to win."
O'Dea's Kyle Miller and Seattle Prep's Ryan Larson tied for third, shooting 2-over par 74s. A large group that included Cooper and KingCo 3A co-champ Charles Koh of Newport tied for fifth at 3-over.
State-tournament allocations will not be finalized until next spring, but it is estimated that 20-25 golfers will advance from the district.