Vikings earn third place on links at Higgins Memorial

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, May 3, 2006

BREMERTON — After earning third place in the Tim Higgins Memorial tournament April 27, North Kitsap’s golf club heads are lining up for a par-five drive into the state tournament.

In fact, that has been the distant focus all year for the top-four Viking players — Stephen and Joey Duwe, David Dobson and Evan Faulk.

“For these guys, their season is not complete unless they make it to state,” said NK coach Tom Harney. “To make it to state, they are going to have to play their best golf. They need to do everything in their power to make that happen.”

At the Kitsap County Golf and Country Club April 27, even though the Vikings didn’t put up their best numbers of the season, they faced the kind of pressure and adversity that will be presented at the state tournament May 23 and 24 should any of them qualify.

On the par-71 course, many competitors in the 12-team field scrambled just to save par on the hilly course which featured fast, firm greens. North Kitsap battled to a third-place team finish.

Bainbridge Island senior Austin Hurt was the only golfer to shoot below par as he turned in a three-under round of 68, leading BI to the overall team title with 305 strokes. Port Townsend turned in a 308 for second and NK came in third with 320.

Individually for the Vikes, David Dobson stepped into the leader’s role, shooting a hard-earned 78 while Stephen Duwe finished with a 79. Joey Duwe and Evan Faulk shot 81 and 82 respectively.

“The three of them have all been our leaders, they are so close together in their total point productions for the year. They’ve all been No. 1 for us,” Harney said of Dobson and the Duwes. “Their strength is that they feed off each other; they are competitive and they are good students in the classroom.”

That keen competitiveness mixed with an abundance of experience has been producing one of the best seasons Harney has seen in years. Most recently with a victory over Port Angeles April 25, the NK team gained admittance into the Egbers Invitational — which is one of the largest amateur tournaments in the state at the Mount Vernon Golf and Country Club May 6.

“It’s a big honor for these guys, I’ve never had a team get invited to this tournament,” Harney said, noting that in the past he has taken only two all-star individuals over the course of his 19-year career. “It puts them in the same atmosphere and will be a good preparation for state.”

After the Egbers Invitational, the Vikes will hone their skills further for the postseason at the Duke Streeter Invite May 8. Then the Narrows League Tournament is scheduled for May 10-12 at Lake Spanaway Golf Course in Tacoma.