SNOQUALMIE – It’s been a wonderful four years of golf for Mount Si High School senior Jess Sanford. Each year she qualified for the state golf tournament, and for the last three years she was the Wildcats’ team captain.

“I am definitely going to miss it. The girls are awesome. They are my family during the spring season,” said Sanford. “They’re just an amazing group of girls and I’ve really enjoyed playing with them this season.”

Sanford has not only left her mark on the Mount Si golf program, she also will leave it in the classroom as well. A 3.9 student, Sanford has been nominated as Rotary Student of the Month. Sanford plans to go to the University of Washington (UW) and study biology and international relations.

“I want to study abroad in Japan to continue studying [the] Japanese language,” she said.

With all of that, and graduate school ahead of her (she’s got an eye on marine biology) Sanford will still find time on the golf course.

Being around the sport her entire life, after having been introduced to it by her father – Mount Si Golf Course co-owner John Sanford- it’s going to be hard to give it up.

Sanford is looking at walking on to the Husky women’s golf team, but knows it will be a difficult challenge to say the least.

“The chances of walking on the UW golf team are pretty slim. They’ve got an amazing golf team,” Sanford said.

With that in mind, Sanford has other plans.

“This summer I’m probably going to be playing in a lot of pro-ams with my dad, Because now that I’m not in high school golf I don’t have to worry about the money regulations,” she said.

Her four state tournament appearances were a mixed, but memorable experience.

“It was really interesting. Freshman year, all I wanted to do

“I’m definately going to miss it, the girls are awesome”

Jess Sanford

Mount Si High golfer

was make it to state. Sophomore year I wanted to make it to the second day but didn’t. Junior year was probably the best, I made it to the second day tied for 22nd, it was just an amazing experience, it was awesome. This last year I didn’t play as well as I would like to, but I definitely had a good time.”

As for her captaincy the last three years, she enjoyed the responsibility.

“I’ve been captain the last three years and it’s been really nice to just lead the team and just make sure that they’re all pumped up for the match. We [weren’t] very good, but I think we [had] the most fun out of all the Kingco teams,” she said.

Alongside Sanford for all four years at Mount Si was fellow senior teammate Rachel Keinath. Sanford had kind words for her teammate.

“Rachel Keinath has played with me all four years and she’s been a blast, she is part of golf, basically and it’s been really fun,” Sanford said.

With her competitive playing future in doubt, the chances are good that she might end up coaching a golf team someday.

“That’d be interesting. I haven’t actually thought about that,” she said. “My dad’s been an awesome teacher for me and from that I really enjoy teaching the other girls on the team.”