Golf Notebook: N. Eugene’s Tomp advances in a 3-peat bid

Two-time reigning 5A girls golf champion Francesca Tomp by North Eugene secured a spot in the upcoming state tournament with a win in the Midwestern League district tournament this week.

The junior finished on 8 over par 152 and won by six strokes over her competition rival, Thurston senior Olivia Grandberryduring the two-day event at Tokatee Golf Club on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“She hit the ball well. She had some trouble putting,” North coached Eugene Shawn Brandt said of Tom. “If you’re trying to shoot par or better, it all comes down to putting for her.”

Tomp held a three-stroke lead over Grandberry after the first round and recovered from a double-bogey on No. 2 with an eagle on No. 3. She managed to keep Grandberry at bay in Wednesday’s second round.

Tomp and Grandberry have been dueling all season. Tomp defeated Grandberry by two strokes to win the Siuslaw Invitational at Florence Golf Links on March 14, and Grandberry came back four days later to defeat Tomp by five strokes in a league tournament at Bar Run in Roseburg.

Tomp won a league tournament in Shadow Hills on April 8, defeating Marist Catholic senior Esha Reddy with two strokes and Grandberry with eight strokes. Tomp’s other win this season came in the Eugene Country Club Invitational on April 15, when she shot a season-best 68.

Tomp’s lowest finish this season came April 11, when she shot a 78 to finish fourth in the Cottage Grove Invitational at Emerald Valley, placing fourth behind Reddy (71). Sheldon senior Jill Potter (76) and Bandon senior Cassie Kennon (77).

Tomp has a chance to become the second four-time state champion to compete Meeting‘S Madison Odiorne (2012-15). Brandt said if Tomp wants to win another title, it will come down to “little details.”

“She’s just trying to find her game and keep it consistent,” Brandt said. “For her, it’s more about controlling herself and her emotions. For her at the moment it is not so much the technical side of golf.

“Sometimes that can be the hardest thing: expectations, disappointment. I just try to keep her balanced and positive and having fun. That’s what I try to encourage her the most.

Tomp’s performance this week helped North Eugene win the district team title. The Highlanders shot 770 and finished well ahead of second place Crater (830).

North Eugene senior Anders Langan finished third at 185. The team’s other scorers were freshmen Sydney Nelson (209), junior Makenna Hobbs (second round 109) and sophomores Emma Broders (first round 115).

The Highlanders finished seventh in the state rankings last year, but with the addition of Nelson and Broders, they are aiming higher this year.

“I think we have a chance to get fourth place and get a trophy,” Brandt said. “The program continues to grow. Next year there will be more girls who have good experience.”

State example

The girls 6A/5A State Preview was limited to seven teams on Tuesday at Trysting Tree, largely due to scheduling conflicts with district tournaments.

The event is traditionally played on the last Tuesday in April, and with the state tournaments moved up a week this year, several district tournaments have also been moved up, creating a conflict.

Washington’s powerhouse Camas And Jesuit finished first and second respectively for the second year in a row. The Papermakers shot 316 to top Jesuit (320), Sunset (321), Wilsonville (338), Mountainside (364), Crescent Valley (423) and Wood burning (427).

Camas senior Jacinda Leethe medalist of last year’s tournament, tied as a Jesuit junior Kate Lee for first place at 71. Camas junior Jasmine Chen (74), Jesuit junior Cecili Hayes (76) and Sunset junior Erika Kobayashi (77) were next.

Jesuit’s other scorers were freshmen Milla Patel (78) and Amelia Kim (95).

Sunset’s lineup consisted of freshman Kobayashi Eugene Yi (80) and second-year students Shravya Kumar (82) and Michiru Tsuchiya (100).

PIL qualification

The 6A Portland Interscholastic League has set its automatic state qualifiers after Tuesday’s district final tournament in Heron Lakes.

The Wells boys and Scholarship girls finished at the top of the leaderboard and earned spots in the 6A tournament. The individual qualifiers for the boys are Lincoln junior Quinn Hefele and Grant Sr Emerson Storer. The girls qualifiers are Cleveland second year Kate Ly and Wells Sr Lucia Donovan.

In Tuesday’s boys tournament, Cleveland (319) defeated Grant (327) and Wells (329). Hefele shot a 2-under 70 to win the medalist title over Cleveland junior Jack Robertson (74) and Grant senior Charles Papak (76).

Ly dominated the girls tournament with a 3-under 69, comfortably ahead of Donovan (82). Grant defeated second-place Cleveland 378-390 for first place.