Document text
55 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, September 10, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 18, 2004 Chris Oetinger of North Medford tees off on the No. 7 hole on Monday. Oetinger�s 74 helped put the Black Tornado in fifth place heading into today�s final round. Tornado in the trophy hunt Team effort on Day 1 puts North boys two strokes out of third place at state tournament By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune CORVALLIS — Chris Oetinger had the perfect supplement for iron deficiency: brilliant chipping and putting. The North Medford senior overcame directional issues on approach shots with a nifty short game Monday in the first round of the Class 4A boys golf state tournament at Trysting Tree Golf Club. With Oetinger and senior Mark Wilson, the No. 3 and 4 players for the Black Tornado, shooting 74 and 75, respectively, North turned in one of its best rounds of the year and found itself in fifth place entering the final round today. Coupled with an even-par 72 from senior Adam Browne, the Southern Oregon Conference champion who continues to play steady, error-free golf, and a higher- than-expected 75 from junior Mike Barry, the Tornado fashioned a team total of 296. "That’s a good score," said North coach Kevin Klabunde, whose team has a best of 291 this year at Running Y Resort in Klamath Falls. "High school golf is all about the No. 4 score. If you get a good score there, you have a chance. Balance is the key." Advertisement Despite the Tornado’s fine day, two-time defending champion Tualatin is making it seem like no one else has a chance. The Timberwolves fired a stunning 277 — bettering the 18-hole state tourney record by 10 shots — and lead second-place Westview, which had a remarkable day in its own right, by five strokes. Cole Peyton led the Tualatin charge with a 65, improving by one the state mark for an 18-hole score. Teammate Blake Seabaugh shot 67, including a 5-under 31 on the front side. "You really can’t worry about them," said Barry, whose 3-over score was three shots higher than his season average. "They have five solid players who can all do sub-70s. The tournament is pretty much for second place." Well, maybe third, and North is in the running, bunched with Sheldon (294) and Roseburg (295) because second-tier players Oetinger and Wilson elevated their games. Oetinger’s day was alternately entertaining and maddening. He hit only five greens in regulation, yet chipped so well he needed only 22 putts. Starting on the back nine, he putted only nine times on his first nine holes, chipping in for birdie on the ninth to punctuate a 35. "Up and down all day," he said, shaking his head. Oetinger was 1 under after 15 holes, but went double bogey and bogey before finishing with a par. Despite the hiccup at the end, he surpassed his goal. "I set it at 75," said Oetinger. "I’ve done that all year and only met my target score a couple of times. Today I went under it, but it’s still a downer that I didn’t hit my irons." Wilson, meanwhile, played his first nine in 1 over, but started the back side with three bogeys. "I was a little concerned," said Klabunde, "but he was able to pull it back and make birdie on that last hole. That was awesome. I’m very pleased with that score." Wilson drained a 12-footer on the 534-yard par-5 final hole. Browne, who is in 12th place individually, and Barry were on the verge of knocking a few strokes off their scores all day long, but neither could get any putts of consequence to fall. If they did, said Barry, they were for par. Browne lipped out a 3-foot birdie on the par-5 14th, then had a putt in the jaws on hole No. 7, only to have it come up short. "To be honest," said Browne, who was killing his drives from the outset, "I’m surprised I didn’t shoot 68 or 69. A lot of putts just missed." He ended the day with a birdie on hole No. 9. After crushing yet another drive — choosing to follow the dogleg right rather than play up the adjoining No. 1 fairway as some players did — he chased a 3-iron close to the green, then got up and down. "I played well, I just really didn’t score my best," said Browne. "But I felt it was a good, solid round." Tualatin got a few of those. Peyton was playing in the No. 5 spot, but that means little, said coach Bob Marling, who credited the immaculate putting surfaces and calm, sunny weather for playing a part in his team’s showing. "There’s really no difference between all five of our guys," said Marling. "He’s (Peyton) a two-time all-state player. He’s obviously a very, very good competitive golfer. I was with him yesterday, and his juices were up. He had a good feeling about today." The way the season has gone, said the coach, Tualatin likely will have someone else step to the forefront today. Westview’s Joel Johnson matched the former state-record round of 66 and was one of nine players to break par. TEAM SCORES — Tualatin 277, Westview 282, Sheldon 294, Roseburg 295, North Medford 296, Summit 301, Oregon City 304, West Albany 305, Sam Barlow 305, Wilson 307, Crescent Valley 308, Jesuit 308, West Linn 310, Reynolds 310, Mountain View 316, Silverton 325, Lincoln 328, North Eugene 336. TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS — 1, Cole Peyton, Tualatin, 65; 2, Joel Johnson, Westview, 66; 3, Blake Seabaugh, Tualatin, 67; 4, Nick Rodgers, Cleveland, 68; 5, (tie) Sam Dukeminier, Sheldon, Pat Jovin, Roseburg, Jeremiah Oliver, Reynolds, Tyler Simpson, Clackamas, 70; 9, (tie) Ali Christi, Westview, Jake Dukeminier, Sheldon, Vincent Johnson, David Douglas, 71. Local Results ROSEBURG (295) — Pat Jovin 70, Marc Goodell 73, Tyler Robinson 74, Marc Polatai 78. NORTH MEDFORD (296) — Adam Browne 72, Chris Oetinger 74, Mike Barry 75, Mark Wilson 75. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities