Teen golfers stay strong

The Washington Junior Golf Association continued its schedule of youth tournaments last week, at the second of three locations in the Valley, and local golfers did very nicely once again on home turf.

The Washington Junior Golf Association continued its schedule of youth tournaments last week, at the second of three locations in the Valley, and local golfers did very nicely once again on home turf.

North Bend’s Jack Kelly shot a 71 at Carnation Golf Course last Monday to take the 14-to-15 boys’ title, while Fall City’s Mike Rutledge fired a solid 68 to finish third in the 16-to-17 boys’ division. Both golfers previously qualified for their district championship with solid scores at Mount Si Golf Course in the association’s first stop of the season June 25, so look for these players to keep improving throughout the summer.

Kelly and Rutledge joined Snoqualmie’s Bradley Harrelson last Tuesday, July 1, in Tumwater at the Junior World state tournament, with all three boys seeking to qualify for the national tournament in San Diego. Rutledge fared the best, firing rounds of 70 and 76 for a total of 146. Harrelson shot rounds of 75 and 80, while Kelly carded scores of 79 and 78 to round out the local contingent. With the top four finishers all finishing well ahead of the Valley threesome, none of them were expected to qualify for the national event.