LA GRANDE — Pendleton dominated the action from start to finish at the Greater Oregon League district tournament, winning the district title by 34 strokes Tuesday at the La Grande Country Club.

It’s the first district title for the Bucks in more than 15 years.

“I’m super excited and happy for the boys,” Pendleton coach Marc Sokoloski said. “They had a good day. The first day, Landon (Neistadt) and Garret (Reinhart) had a good day. Today, Cole (Sazue) and Sheldon (Joseph) had a good day, and Garret and Landon struggled a bit.”

The top two teams and top five individuals qualified for the 4A state tournament May 18-19 at Emerald Valley Golf & Resort in Creswell.

Pendleton finished the two-day event with a 637 after shooting a 317 the first day. La Grande was second (671) and Baker was third (678).

Baker’s Elias Long won medalist honors with a 146, including a 70 for the first round. Pendleton’s Garret Reinhart was second (75-80—155), with La Grande’s Brody Miller (81-75—156) third.

The Bucks’ top four golfers were in the top six, with Sheldon Joseph fourth (81-76—157), Landon Neistadt fifth (78-84—162) and Cole Sazue tied for sixth (83-80—163).

“The boys are playing really well right now,” Sokoloski said. “There are some things we need to clean up. It’s the team we thought it was going to be. I wouldn’t take any players around the state for the six I have. A state championship is what we are after. I would like to have three in the top 10, and I think that is attainable.”

Pendleton took its entire team to state last year and finished sixth.

“I feel good about where our game is now,” Sokoloski said. “We have continually improved each week. State-wide, we are fluctuating between first and second with Marist. We still have to go out and play. Our end goal is to bring home a state title.”

3A/2A/1A Special District 4 

Tyler Campbell shot a 158 to finish third overall and lead Echo/Stanield to a state berth at the SD4 district tournament at Buffalo Creek Golf Course in Union.

“Tristan (Horn) had his best round of the season yesterday, Tyler played really well today, and both Cole (Ayres) and Owen (Stafford) added steady rounds to help the team all tournament long,” Echo coach Lindsay Murdock said. “Putting was definitely a challenge for all five boys over the past two days, but having played Tokatee Golf Course last week during the state preview gives them a good idea of what to expect heading into next week.”

The top 3 teams and top five individuals qualified for the 3A/2A/1A state tournament, May 18-19 at Tokatee Golf Course in McKenzie.

Campbell, who shot an 81 on Monday, shot a 77 on Tuesday, including birdies on holes 3 and 5. He had a two-day 158.

Sawyer Quinton of Prairie City won medalist honors with a 149, including a 73 for the second round. Coltin Miller of Burns was second with a 152, including a 75 for the first round.

Burns won the team title with a 686, with Echo second with a 693, and Trinity Lutheran third with a 701. McLoughlin finished fifth (740), while Union was eighth (771) and Heppner 11th (818). Pilot Rock, Weston-McEwen, Umatilla and Nixyaawii did not field complete teams.

For Weston-McEwen, David Murphy finished 57th (110-108—218), while Theo Sprenger was 63rd (121-108—229).

Nixyaawii was led by Evan Minthorn (65th, 113-124—237), while Jeffrey Van Pelt was 69th (118-121—239) and Harley Gone was 70th (139-132—271).

Girls golf

Heppner sophomore Naomi Propheter and Pendleton senior Sophie Nelson punched their tickets to the state tournament after finishing in the top five at the 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 6 district tournament at Buffalo Creek Golf Course in Union.

The top two teams, along with the top 5 individuals, qualified for the 4A/3A/2A/1A state tournament May 18-19 at Eagle Crest Resort Course in Redmond.

Dufur’s Tygh Timinsky won medalist honors, and her fourth consecutive district title, with a 74-78—152, while Propheter was second (78-88—166) and Hallie Feeney of Trinity Lutheran third (92-91—183. Nelson was fourth with a two-day 185 (92-93).

Trinity Lutheran won the team title with an 802, while Dufur was second with an 809.

Pendleton was fourth after the first day of action with a  418, and finished fourth overall with an 838 — six strokes out of third place.

“Sophie was in third place until the last hole,” Pendleton coach Davis Curtis said. “She has had a great year. The girls really stepped up today. They made up 22 strokes.” 

It’s the first time the Bucks have sent someone to state since 2024, when the entire team qualified. Following Nelson for the Bucks were Brinley Curtiss (9th, 97-103—200), Emma Ware (16th, 114-101—215) and Kennady Alvarado (31st, 115-123—238).