One year after Jesuit's boys golf team won its 10th state championship – tying Lake Oswego and Medford for the most all-time – the Crusaders have a realistic shot at adding to their haul.
They graduated two outstanding players in Mason Zimmerman (tied for third at state) and Grady Brown, but they have built another contender around seniors Jack Harrington and Joseph Ulrich, the team's other two scorers in the 6A tournament last year.
“Some big guys have gone, but having Jack and Joseph back, that's as good of a one and two as you're going to get in the state,” coach Matt Schulte said. “They're great players, but they've become great leaders. That's helped our young guys tremendously. It's been fun to watch the young guys grow into their game.”
Behind Harrington, Ulrich and sophomores Will Burke and Cameron Fagan, Jesuit won the title in the tough Metro League over Westview and Mountainside. The Crusaders like their chances entering the 6A tournament May 19-20 at the OGA Golf Course in Woodburn.
“I think we're playing our best golf right now,” Schulte said. “We're kind of peaking at the right time. I'm really excited for next week.”
The Michigan-bound Harrington finished as the Metro's No. 2-ranked golfer behind Westview junior Jake Rodgers, recording a stroke average of 72.44 this season. Harrington won the season-opening Canby Invitational at Willamette Valley Country Club and shot a 69 to finish first in the 18-team 6A/5A State Preview at the OGA Golf Course on April 23.
The 69 came after he shot a season-low 68 in a Metro match at Forest Hills Golf Course on April 21.
“Right now he's finding out how to go low-low,” Schulte said of Harrington, who tied for 12th at state last year. “He's never going to be that far above par. But he has a gear that he's been finding. I'm excited to see what he does at OGA. I think he's ready to really break out in that kind of an event.”
Ulrich, who tied for 10th at state in 2024, is Jesuit's No. 2 player. He has a stroke average of 75.44, including two rounds of 71.
“He just plays golf so naturally,” Schulte said. “It's amazing what he can do with a golf ball. He's a beautiful singer, and I think he uses some of that artistry in his golf game. He sees the game almost as art.”
Burke and Cameron – as well as the team's No. 5 player, junior Athan Kaady – have shown the ability to shoot in the mid-70s. None of them had any varsity experience entering the season but have proven to be viable contributors.
“I knew they had it in them,” Schulte said. “I still think they have another gear.”
The contrasting styles of Harrington and Ulrich have provided good examples for the varsity newcomers.
“It's awesome for the younger guys to see you can play this game well kind of being yourself,” Schulte said.
In the 6A/5A State Preview, Jesuit and Mountainside each shot 305 to tie for first place ahead of league rival Westview, which was third at 306. The tournament did not include many of the other top 6A teams, however.
In the Crusaders' only other tournament outside of the Metro, they finished fourth in the Canby Invitational, behind Westview, Glencoe and West Linn.
Lake Oswego, runner-up to Jesuit by five strokes at state last year, is among a large group of potential state contenders.
“State's pretty open this year. There are eight teams that could win it,” Schulte said. “I think all of those teams could go under 300 for a day. If we play the kind of golf we're capable of, we're going to be tough to beat.”
Jesuit had not played a match since April 28 before squaring off with Glencoe in a friendly dual Tuesday at Pumpkin Ridge.
“We've been having match play against ourselves, just trying to keep it competitive,” Schulte said. “
Quinn edges Hartwell
Two of the state's best small-school golfers faced off in a dramatic duel in the 3A/2A/1A Special District 3 tournament Monday and Tuesday at Bandon Crossings.
Bandon sophomore Sevren Quinn outlasted Crosspoint Christian junior Davis Hartwell, the reigning state champion, by one stroke to win the 11-team tournament.
“That was an amazing match. A lot of drama,” Crosspoint Christian coach Curtis Waite said. “That's really high-level golf.”
Quinn shot 69 and 71 for a two-day total of 4-under 140 and Hartwell fired 75 and 66 for a 141. Quinn birded four of the last six holes – including No. 18 – to win. He finished more than one hour after Hartwell.
Hartwell trailed by six strokes after one round and came back to take a four-stroke lead during the second round, but a double-bogey on the par-three No. 17 proved costly. If he had avoided the double-bogey on No. 17, he would have set the course record.
In last year's state tournament, Quinn tied for third place, 12 strokes behind Hartwell.
Brookings-Harbor senior Lucas Vanderlip (144) and Bandon senior Peyton Simonds (146) placed third and fourth, respectively.
Bandon dominated the team scoring, shooting 604 to beat runner-up St. Mary's by 96 strokes. The Tigers' other scorers were sophomore Braedon Millhouser (fifth-158) and freshman Jackson Simonds (ninth-164).
'On a different level'
Hartwell, who has committed to Oregon State, entered the tournament at Bandon Crossings off rounds of 67 and 68. Except for the 75 in the first round, he has shot under par in every round this season.
“He's on a different level,” Waite said. “He's doing that missing short putts. Davis can get even better with his short game.”
Waite said that Hartwell's ball speed can approach 190 mph off the tee, an eye-popping number considering PGA Tour professionals average 170-175.
“It's fun to watch because he can hit it 360, 370 sometimes,” Waite said of the slender, 6-foot-1 Hartwell. “It's really about how he generates torque.”
Hartwell created buzz in middle school when he shot a 58 at Running Y Golf Resort in Klamath Falls. Last summer, he finished second in the PGA High School Golf National Invitational in Frisco, Texas, shooting a three-day total of 13-under 203.
“He's his own coach, essentially,” Waite said. “He doesn't have an instructor.”
Tomp cruises through district
North Eugene senior Francesca Tomp, the three-time reigning 5A champion, tuned up for the state tournament with a win in the Midwestern League district tournament.
Tomp shot a 5-over 149 over two rounds at Eagle Point Golf Club to run away with the district title. Her teammates, freshman Dakota Davis (166) and sophomore Sydney Nelson (188), were the next two finishers.
North Eugene shot 728 to beat runner-up Eagle Point by 141 strokes.
Udom wins regional
Westview junior Melinee Udom shot an even-par 72 to turn back Jesuit senior Cecili Hayes by one stroke in the 6A Special District 1 regional Tuesday at Stone Creek Golf Club.
Jesuit (330), Mountainside (342) and Westview (369) – three Metro League teams – claimed the three state berths at the regional, which also included teams from the Portland Interscholastic League and Pacific Conference.
Four Metro teams earned spots in the state tournament, including league champion Sunset.
Priyan dominates
Catlin Gabel junior Vishaka Priyan fired a 7-under 137 to dominate the 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 2 girls tournament Monday and Tuesday at Meadow Lakes.
After shooting a 66 in the first round, Priyan recorded a 71 in the second round, despite a double-bogey on No. 18. Priyan tied for second at state last year, six stroke behind Valley Catholic's Madeliene Conser, now a sophomore.
jerryu@osaa.org
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