CRESWELL — Pendleton’s Landon Neistadt shot an 82, and the Bucks are sitting second in the team standings after the first day of the 4A state golf championships at Emerald Valley Golf Club.
“The course was set up difficult with tough pin placements and very fast greens,” Pendleton coach Marc Sokoloski said. “The only team able to manage the course was Marist, as scoring was difficult. I believe a huge factor in this is a result of this being their home course and they just finished their league district tournament at this venue.”
Marist leads the team standings with a 3-9, while Pendleton is second at 340, and Cascade is a close third with a 32.
Xanh Quang of Seaside is atop the leaderboard with a 75, with Tripp Murphy and Dominic Angelastro of Marist tied for second with 76s.
Neistadt shot par on nine holes and had a 40 on the back nine despite a double bogey on hole 10.
Also for Pendleton, Garret Reinhart and Cole Sazue are tied for 11th with 84s, while Sheldon Joseph is tied for 25th with a 90.
“I knew we would need to start fast and all the guys just couldn’t get anything going until the last 4-5 holes. We are looking to continue this momentum into Day 2 tomorrow and hopefully put a stamp on what has been a great season.”
The tournament continues on Tuesday.
3A/2A/1A STATE TOURNAMENT — Echo/Stanfield struggled on the first day of action at Tokatee Golf Club in Blue River.
The Cougars are sitting 12th in the team standings with a 379, 20 strokes back of St. Mary’s, which is 11th.
“Day 1 of state golf is officially under our belt,” Echo coach Lindsay Murdock said. “While I’d love to say it was our best showing, it definitely wasn’t. A couple tough holes got the best of us at times, and that’s the thing about state golf — it takes being at the very top of your mental game from start to finish.”
Tyler Campbell leads Echo, sitting tied for 41st with a 90. Owen Stafford is tied for 45th with a 91, while Tristan Horn is tied for 50th with a 94, and Cole Ayres is 61st with a 104.
“This afternoon, we took the boys on a beautiful hike to Blue Pool to reset, recharge, and clear their minds a bit,” Murdock said. “We’re hopeful it’s exactly what they need to find the right flow for tomorrow. I think the hardest part for them is knowing what they’re capable of and feeling like they didn’t show that today.”
Bandon leads the team scoring at 312, with Banks second at 321 and Blanchet Catholic third with a 337.
Sevren Quinn of Bandon and Davis Hartwell of Crosspoint Christian are tied for the lead with 1-under 71s. Jake Crowell of Banks is third with a 73.
The tournament continues on Tuesday.
Girls golf
Pendleton’s Sophie Nelson is sitting 13th overall with an 89 after the first day of play at the girls 4A/3A/2A/1A state tournament at Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond.
Nelson shot par on three holes and had a birdie on hole 15.
“Sophie had a great day today,” Pendleton coach Dave Curtis said. “It was windy, but she was able to make the shots when she needed to. Her putting was also good today. Very proud of her.”
Heppner sophomore Naomi Propheter, who shot par on five holes, shot a 96 and is tied for 20th. She had a 43 on the front nine, but struggled on holes 11, 13 and 14 on the back nine for a 53.
“The course is really tight on the back nine,” Heppner assistant coach Joe Armato said. “Going into the day, we had some concerns over her control off the tee box. Lots of tee shots we want back. I’m super proud of how she finished strong to round out what is for her a disappointing round. I know she is looking forward to tomorrow to sew what she is capable of, and end the season on a high note.
Salem Academy is leading the team standings with a 323, followed by Henley at 351 and St. Mary’s (Medford) with a 368.
Ellie Glad of Salem Academy leads the field with a 72, with teammate Chloe Johnston second (75), and Vishaka Priyan of Catlin Gabel and Emma Wheelock of St. Mary’s tied for third with 77s.
Baseball
PENDLETON JV 5-11, PILOT ROCK 3-1 — The Bucks used three runs in the bottom of the second inning to break open a tie ballgame and take the lead in winning the first game of their nonleague doubleheader with the Rockets at Bob White Field.
Wes Browning drove in a run with a hard-hit single to the Pilot Rock shortstop for a 2-1 Pendleton lead, and Colston Zimmerman followed by scoring on a wild pitch. Browning also scored on a wild pitch for a 4-1 lead.
Pilot Rock (8-17) pulled within 4-3 with two runs in the fifth as one run scored on an error and another off a wild pitch.
The Bucks scored once in the bottom of the fifth on a fly out by Karter Spencer for a 5-3 lead that would stand until the end of the game.
Browning went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored, while Aaden Hernandez hit a triple. Spencer picked up the win for the Bucks, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts over four innings of work.
Lucas Thieme and Tucker Holton each had two hits for the Rockets, with Holton hitting a triple. Gage Williams recorded the loss, giving up five runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and walking three.
In the second game, Hernandez had a double and drove in three runs as the Bucks completed the sweep.
Pendleton jumped out to a 4-1 lead after the first inning, then added four runs in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth to invoke the mercy rule.
Tanner Morgan picked up the win, allowing one run on three hits while striking out five and walking none.
Joe Foster went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored for the Bucks, while Karter Spencer hit a double. The Bucks took advantage of 10 Pilot Rock errors. Lucas Thieme hit a double for the Rockets, while Carter VanHouten and Williams each had a single. Tate Thacker took the loss, allowing eight runs on three hits while striking out two and walking three.
