Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Thursday, Jun. 25, 2009

ALL-WHATCOM COUNTY: Girls' golf

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

CLAIRE RACHOR

School: Bellingham

Year: Senior

What she did: Won her second consecutive Class 2A state title after shooting 72 in the final round to finish at 148 for the tournament ... Also helped Bellingham win a state team title ... Came back from three strokes down to take individual medalist honors at the Northwest District tournament ... Named the Northwest Conference's Most Valuable Player after shooting 387 for the regular season using Stableford scoring ... Will be playing at Western Washington University next season.

Coach's quote: "Claire had one of the best all-team seasons in Northwest Conference history. She put herself in a position to compete and win in every tournament she was in. Any time you put a club in her hand, something special happens." - Brad McKay

COACH OF THE YEAR

BRAD MCKAY

School: Bellingham

What he did: Coached Bellingham to a Class 2A state team title and helped Claire Rachor to an individual title ... Helped the Red Raiders to the Northwest District and Northwest Conference crowns ... Had two players on the All-Northwest Conference first team, including MVP Rachor ... Leads one of the most dominate girls' golf programs in the state at any level.

Coach's quote: "Brad has a great personality for coaching. He's a good communicator and has a good background in golf. He's built a great tradition at Bellingham and I'm proud to see him having success. He's earned it." - Ferndale coach Dean Russell

JESSICA DAVIS

School: Bellingham

Year: Junior

What she did: Placed seventh at the Class 2A state tournament after shooting a 163 over the course of the two-day tournament ... Helped the Red Raiders to a state team title and a Northwest District crown ... Finished third at the district tournament ... Named to the All-Northwest Conference first team ... Was second at the NWC Championships ... Topped the field at a conference tournament at Homestead Farms Golf Course ... Will be a key to Bellingham's success next season.

Coach's quote: "Jessica just had a phenomenal year in terms of points scored. For her to score as many points as she did just showed how good a competitor she is. As a player she was just tremendous." - Brad McKay

TATE HEAD

School: Sehome

Year: Senior

What she did: Finished 10th at the Class 2A state tournament after shooting an 83-84 for 167 over the two-day tournament ... A leader and team captain for Sehome ... Named to the All-Northwest Conference first team ... Placed fourth at the Northwest District tournament and third at the NWC Championship ... Helped Sehome to a fifth place finish at state in the team race this year and a state title last season ... Will play at Whitman College next season.

Coach's quote: "I've had the pleasure to coach Tate from a junior varsity player to a top-level state competitor She's going on to play for Whitman College next year and I expect that she will continue to improve and have success at the college level." - Don Helling

NICOLE WAKABAYASHI

School: Squalicum

Year: Junior

What she did: Finished tied for 31st at the Class 2A state tournament after shooting 194 over two days ... Was a first-team All-Northwest Conference selection ... Will be a cornerstone of the Storm's team next season ... Is very competitive and cool under pressure ... Finished fourth at the Whatcom County Girls' Golf Championships ... Began golfing seriously just two years ago ... Also an accomplished musician and piano player.

Coach's quote: "Nicole is just a solid player. She approaches the game analytically and objectively and that's helped her develop. She's become a very good player. She and Brinn (Hovde) always bring the right attitude to the course." - Andrew Marshall

BRINN HOVDE

School: Squalicum

Year: Senior

What she did: Finished 22nd at the Class 2A state tournament after shooting a final round 89 to make a big leap up the standings ... Placed sixth at the Northwest District tournament ... Was an All-Northwest Conference first team selection ... Helped the Storm to a team win at Avalon Golf Course in Burlington, just the second team win since the program started ... Has plans to play college golf at Linfield College in Oregon next year.

Coach's quote: "Brinn and Nicole Wakabayashi formed a very dynamic duo for us. Brinn really dedicated herself to the game and it really showed. She did a great job for us. She provided such solid leadership for us." - Andrew Marshall

DANIELLE BENSON

School: Mount Baker

Year: Junior

What she did: Placed 30th at the Class 2A state meet after shooting a two-day 193 ... Helped lead Mount Baker to its first Northwest Conference team win in school history ... Was an All-NWC first team selection ... Tied for 12th at the Northwest District Tournament ... Finished fifth at the Whatcom County Girls' Golf Championship ... Her consistency from round to round is one of her strengths and she rarely saw a big drop between rounds.

Coach's quote: "Danielle worked hard this season and accomplished all of her goals. She is the most mentally tough player I have coached. No matter what happened on the previous hole or match, Danielle was able to put that behind her and play the shot in front of her." - Mike Lembo

MANDY WITTMIER

School: Ferndale

Year: Junior

What she did: Finished 35th at the Class 3A state tournament after shooting a 181 over the two-day event ... Named to the All-Northwest Conference second team ... Played her best golf late in the season ... A three-year letter winner and a team captain ... Finished fifth at the Class 3A Northwest District tournament after carding an 89 on her final day ... Finished 10th at the Whatcom County Girls' Golf Championship.

Coach's quote: "Mandy brings quite a lot of leadership to our team. She was our captain and did a great job. She also did a great job stepping up her short game this season. She really worked on her chipping and putting. She made it to state again this season and has the goods to play at the next level." - Dean Russell

CAITLYN SHERIF

School: Sehome

Year: Senior

What she did: Placed 19th at the Class 2A state tournament after shooting an 89 on the second day to storm back into the top 20 ... Her finish at state was even more impressive considering she placed 20th at the Northwest District tournament ... Shot a 52 at the Northwest Conference Championships and an 18 at the Whatcom County Championships ... Will be playing at Linfield College in Oregon next season.

Coach's quote: "Caitlyn is another golfer who has risen within the high school ranks from JV golfer to state standout. She bounced back from a tough district tournament to play solid two days of golf in her first state appearance." - Don Helling

Honorable Mention

MacKenzie Ferron, Bellingham

Ali Smith, Bellingham

Berkeley Martinez, Bellingham

Madison Olson, Lynden

Lauren Ramstead, Nooksack Valley

Ashley Vincent, Blaine

Jessica Russell, Ferndale