Friday Harbor Golf Team -- Spring 2000

Sandwith finishes 14th in state golf meet

Friday Harbor High School senior Robbie Sandwith birdied a long par 5 with an island green at Homestead Golf Course. It was the 36th hole of the Sandwith’s Class A State Tournament appearance and the final putt of hundreds over the past four years of high school competition. After retrieving his ball, Sandwith relished the moment – he took his time exiting the green to congratulatory friends, family and his coach.

"That was a really cool feeling to end my career like that," said Sandwith, who made his first state appearance this year.

Sandwith would’ve liked to finish better than 14 of 40, but was proud of his strong finish at the end of the wet and windy day. He shot an 88 Monday and tied with seven other golfers. "There were bunch of guys at 86 and 87," he said.

"The wind really killed people," Sandwith said. "It’s a tough enough course as it is."

The cut fell at 88, permitting Sandwith another day of high school competition. Two of his teammates fell a few strokes shy of the cut-off. Freshman Justin Benz shot a 90 and Junior Ryan Phelan had a 92.

The second day Sandwith relaxed and shot even or one over on the front nine and finished with an 81. "I was really close to an awesome front nine," Sandwith said.

"The second day I played a lot better," he added.

Three Wolverine golfers make state cut

Friday Harbor golf coach Dave Anderson hoped more than one of his players would advance from the Tri-District Tournament to the Class A State Tournament. His team did one better: senior Robbie Sandwith, junior Ryan Phelan and freshman Justin Benz will compete with the state’s best linksters at Homestead Country Club in Whatcom County May 22-23.

"It was nice to see them come back from the disappointing matches at our league match last week," Anderson said.

The trio is probably the largest contingent of golfers Friday Harbor has sent to a boys golf championship. It definitely is the biggest group to make the final match since Anderson started coaching the team in the early 1990s.

Sandwith shot a 43 on High Cedars Country Club’s front nine Wednesday, May 17. He figured his score too high to be in contention for the state cutoff. Sandwith told Orcas coach Clayton Olson that he planned to have fun and relax on his last nine holes of high school golf. Olson informed Sandwith his score ranked with the field’s best. Sandwith concentrated and used 40 strokes on the second nine.

"This is the first time Robbie shot better on the back side at district," Anderson said.

Sandwith came close to making the cut in his previous three district tournament appearances. His freshman year he just missed playing off for the final spot and attended the state tourney as an alternate. The following year he came within two strokes of the cut. Last year he was leading the Wolverines on the front side, but struggled on the back side.

"It was really nice to see Robbie not have bad luck," Anderson said.

Phelan hit a couple chip-ins for birdies. He finished with a 41 on the first nine and a 44 on the back nine. He also correctly handled a contested shot. If Phelan hadn’t prevailed he might not be heading to the state tournament.

Benz, a freshman, continued his steady play by shooting a 41 on the first nine and a 44 on the second nine.

Friday Harbor finished fourth among the Tri-District teams. Archbishop Thomas Murphy, who the Wolverines beat in Northwest A League play, won the team competition. Charles Wright Academy finished second and Bellevue Christian was third.

"If the kids can play well … we have as good a shot of doing something as anybody," Anderson said.

Melissa Biggers competed in the girls Tri-District Tournament for Friday Harbor.

Golf schedule

^{Home games in bold}

Mar. 14 - at Lakewood (W)
Mar. 17 -at Archibishop Murphy(W)
Mar. 24 - LaConner(W)
Mar. 28 - Mt. Baker (W)
Mar. 31 - at Orcas (W)
Apr. 1 - at Lopez, 9 a.m. (not played)
Apr. 7 - at Archibishop Murphy, (W).
Apr. 10 - Lopez, (W)
Apr. 18 - Mt. Baker (Lake Padden)(L),
Apr. 28 - Orcas, 2:30 p.m.
May 2 - at Lakewood, (W)
May 5 - at LaConner, (W)
May 8-11 - NWAL League Meet, TBA
May 15-18 - Tri-District Meet, TBA
May 22-23 - State Meet, TBA

Benz best of league linksters

Justin Benz shot an 83 to earn medalist honors in the Northwest A League Championship at Glen Eagle Golf Course on May 10.

Archbishop Thomas Murphy, who the Wolverines trimmed twice in conference play, had five players shoot in the 80’s to win the league title. "ATM has some very good golfers," Friday Harbor coach Dave Anderson said.

Friday Harbor’s other scores were: Ryan Phelan, 86; Robbie Sandwith, 93; William Shuman, 98; and Nick Schuman, 98.

Anderson is confident his team can bounce back at the Tri-District Tourney at High Cedars in Orting May 17. "Three guys have an excellent chance to be at state," Anderson said.

Wolverine linksters lick Lakewood,
La Conner, Orcas

Sophomore Justin Benz shot a 40 at Anacortes’ Similik Beach for medalist honors in Friday Harbor’s 219-252 win over La Conner May 5. With the win, the Wolverines went undefeated in league for the second consecutive season and extended their conference win streak to 33.

Will Shuman shot a 46 and Kohl Metzger-Bell hit a 48, both the best of their high school golfing careers.

Benz and Robbie Sandwith used 39 strokes and shared medalist honors in a 223-239 non-league win over Lakewood May 2.

Friday Harbor undershot Orcas 223-274 on April 28. Benz led the field with a 41 at San Juan Golf and Country Club.

Other Friday Harbor leaders and their scores were: Ryan Phelan 42, Sandwith 44, Nick Schuman 48 and William Shuman 48.

In girls action, Danielle Johanneck of Orcas hit a 60 and Melissa Biggers of Friday Harbor had an 86.

FH golfers gain experience
in 18-hole loss

Friday Harbor's golf team finished last at a four-way invite hosted by Mount Baker at Lake Padden Golf Course April 18, but several of the Wolverine linksters learned more about playing an 18-hole match.

Mount Baker won the competition with a 413 team score. Ferndale came in second with a 440, Blaine third with a 480 and Friday Harbor fourth with a 500.

Justin Benz led the Wolverine golfers with an 84. Ryan Phelan shot a 90, Nick Schuman a 96, Rick Laursen a 110 and Kohl Metzger-Bell a 120.

"Justin, Ryan and Nick played really well, considering they hadn't seen the course," Friday Harbor coach Dave Anderson said.

Friday Harbor is 8-3 on the season and 7-0 in Northwest League play. The Wolverines host Orcas at 2:30 p.m. April 28.

FH Linksters tally 31st consecutive league win

Robbie Sandwith and Justin Benz shared medalist honors in Friday Harbor's 223-227 victory over Archbishop Thomas Murphy Friday, April 7. The win brings Friday Harbor's consecutive league victories to 31.

"We're quietly dominating ...," said Friday Harbor coach Dave Anderson.

Sandwith and Benz used 42 strokes on nine holes.

In a non-league home contest against Lopez Monday, April 10, Sandwith shot a match-low 40. Nick Schuman had his best round of the season, shooting a 43 for the Wolverines. Benz had a 44, Ryan Phelan a 47 and William Shuman a 56.

The Wolverines are continuing to lower their scores. "They're making progress," Anderson.

Friday Harbor was to host Lakewood Friday, April 14, but that has been rescheduled for May 2.

Wolverine linksters vanquish Vikings

Justin Benz shot a 39 to win medallist honors in Friday Harbor golf team's victory over Orcas on the Vikings' home course Friday, March 31.

Robbie Sandwith chipped in a 42 for the Wolverines. Ryan Phelan and Nick Schuman each hit 45 strokes and Rick Laursen had a 54.

Not enough Lopez players showed for a match scheduled for Saturday, April 1, said Friday Harbor coach Dave Anderson. It wasn't an April Fool's joke -- the Lobos had other engagements. The three Lobo players and the Wolverine starters played 18 practice holes. "We got some good leg work in," Anderson said.

The Wolverines defend their 5-0 record Friday when they host Archbishop Thomas Murphy San Juan Golf & Country Club. The Wolverines shaved the Wildcats by one stroke earlier this season.

Friday Harbor linksters
conquered Mount Baker

The Wolverines' boys golf team upped their record to 4 -0 after edging Mount Baker 227-234 March 28 at San Juan Golf & Country Club.

Justin Benz earned medalist honors for Friday Harbor by shooting a 39.

Ryan Phalen knocked a few strokes off his previous scores and finished with a 41. "I dropped Ryan down in the order and he responded," said Friday Harbor coach Dave Anderson.

Robbie Sandwith shot a 43 for the Wolverines and Nick Schuman had a 48. William Shuman and Rick Laursen hit 56 strokes apiece.

Friday Harbor's female golfers played five holes against Mounty opponents. Tiffaney Spendiff shot a 44 and Melissa Biggers had a 47.

Wolverines linksters add to streak

Friday Harbor golfers, with victories over Archbishop Murphy on March 17 and LaConner on March 24, extended their in-conference win streak: The Wolverine linksters have not lost a league match since the first contest of the 1998 season.

The Wolverines squeaked past Archbishop Murphy 229-230 on Battle Creek, the Wildcats' home course.

"That's the strongest team we'll face until district," said Friday Harbor coach Dave Anderson.

Anderson was pleased with the play of his team, which has only three experienced golfers. "It was really nice to sneak one out and get a win for our younger players," he said.

Rob Sandwith and Justin Benz shot 40s and shared medalist honors. Ryan Phelan shot a 46, Nick Schuman a 51 and Rick Laursen a 52.

"Our players brought their scores down and continued that against LaConner," Anderson said.

The Wolverines undershot the young LaConner team 223-316 at San Juan Golf & Country Club. Benz led the field with a 39. Sandwith shot a 42, Schuman a season-high 45, Phelan a 47 and Laursen 50.

Although his score doesn't count (a team's top five scores are used), Kohl Bell continued his improvement by compiling a 51. That's four strokes better than his previous effort. William Shuman shot a 60 in his first meet for the Wolverines.

Linksters lick Lakewood

Sophomore Justin Benz tied for medalist honors as the Friday Harbor golf team nipped Lakewood 245-250 at Kayak Point Tuesday.

Benz and Lakewood’s Mike Simpson shot 42 on the 36-par front nine. Senior Rob Sandwith had a 46, junior Ryan Phelan a 49, freshman Nick Schuman a 54 and senior Rick Laursen a 54.

"I was really pleased because none of the kids played the course before," said Friday Harbor coach Dave Anderson.

Anderson also noted the late winter conditions – wet fairways and hard greens – were marginal. "Bogey golf would be an exceptional score early in the season," he said.

San Juan Islander staff

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