Conference call: SCAC West shines at state golf tournament

YAKIMA, Wash. — Over the past eight years, the SCAC West has left its mark on the Class 1A state golf tournament.

Two titles, two runner-up finishes (including one ending in a sudden-death playoff for the title), 10 total top-10 finishes, and another seven top-20 showings have shown the West has held its own against the best in the state.

And it will likely add to that impressive resume this spring with Cle Elum’s Rylee Iacolucci and Goldendale’s Bree Wanderscheid among the championship contenders in their respective events that will be played today and Wednesday at The Home Course in Dupont.

Wanderscheid, a sophomore, is already part of the SCAC West’s success story, tying for second with Elma’s Alexis Keating in the girls tournament last spring as a freshman.

“Bree’s a one-person wrecking crew,” said Wade Iacolucci, the Cle Elum coach and father of Rylee. “She’s tough. She’s a competitor.”

And with defending champion Kristen Rue graduated, Wanderscheid and Keating are the top returners and will be playing together in the first girls group off the tee today.

“She’s jumped a level since last year,” Goldendale coach Ted Wilkins said, adding that last spring’s state showing and her improved driving distance has done a lot for Wanderscheid’s confidence. “Bree feels she can play with anyone … and she works hard at her game.”

Iacolucci didn’t come as close to a title as Wanderscheid did last spring, finishing in a tie for seventh, but his game has continued to improve and the senior looks to close out his prep career on a strong note.

“He’s gotten much better. He’s getting better at every competition,” said Wade Iacolucci, noting that his son shot a 63 in a men’s event at Suncadia’s Tumble Creek course this past Saturday after firing a 1-under 71 on the same layout to win the SCAC district title last week.

While Wanderscheid’s emphasis this spring was hitting longer off the tee, Iacolucci’s focus hasn’t involved his clubs.

“His mental game has gotten more stable, more durable,” Wade said. “He’s more in control of himself. He’s worked on his game, but he’s also worked on the mental side.

“I can see it in how he controls himself on the course.”

That mental focus will be put to the test today as Iacolucci is in the lead boys group playing alongside defending champion Brett Johnson from Ridgefield.

Iacolucci and Wanderscheid head up a strong Valley contingent of 25 boys and 18 girls, with 12 of those boys and seven of the girls having qualified for state last spring.

Also in the 1A ranks, La Salle’s boys have three state returners in Beau Wangler, Jack Sutton and Ty Lighty, with Grace Martin and Claire Moorer heading back for the girls.

In 2A, East Valley’s Andrew Raab (25th last spring) and Chad Cameron, and Prosser’s Devin Bender all qualified for a second straight year and each is capable of a strong showing. Selah’s girls send four players, led by Taylor Jones, who was 39th last season, and East Valley’s Allyson Ingraham and Wapato’s Michelle Baluca also earned return trips.

Riverside Christian will have three boys in the Class B tournament.

LOCAL STATE GOLF QUALIFIERS

Class 4A and 3A

(At Spokane)

None

Class 2A

(Boys at The Classic Golf Course, Spanaway; girls at Lake Spanaway Golf Course, Spanaway)

BOYS

East Valley: x-Andrew Raab, Andrew Devine, x-Chad Cameron. Ellensburg: Scott Whitaker. Prosser: x-Devin Bender. Selah: Joel Ford. Derek Wood.

GIRLS

East Valley: Alexa Palomarez, x-Allyson Ingraham. Prosser: Alex Riojas. Selah: x-Taylor Jones, Briana Nelson, Katie Daniels, Cassy Burns. Wapato: x-Michelle Baluca.

Class 1A

(At The Home Course, Dupont)

BOYS

Cle Elum: x-Rylee Iacolucci, x-Ryan Selzler. Goldendale: Andrew Wall, x-Riley Ross, Mitch Anderson, Joel Gerchak. La Salle: x-Beau Wangler, x-Jack Sutton, x-Ty Lighty. Naches Valley: x-Dawson Roeber, Nathan Nulliner, x-Brad Bartley, Hunter Vance, x-Conner Oliver. Zillah: Brady Widner.

GIRLS

Cle Elum: Sammy Clifton, Sarah Winebrenner, Cheyenne Henrichsen. Goldendale: x-Bree Wandersheid, Sawyer Ross, Tessa Edwards. Highland: x-Haley Gredvig. La Salle: x-Grace Martin, x-Claire Moorer.

Class B

(At Oakbrook GC Club, Lakewood)

BOYS

Riverside Christian: Derrick Phelps, Matt Guchee, Gage Neiffer.

GIRLS

Riverside Christian: Ashley Borello.

x—2011 state qualifier