The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Senior Elliot Haney was playing in his last District Championship but it wasn't the same caliber competitors he played against last year where he finished third with a 36-hole score of 174. The addition of Ilwaco and Life Christian high schools has strengthened the district to the point of where this season the cut of top eight going to state was 172, quite a difference.

After day one Elliot's 18-hole score of 84 looked secure in sixth place of the 30 man field while freshman Bryce Good missed the two day cut, shooting a 114.

Day two turned out to be a roller coaster that gave the coaches stomach acid. Elliot hit the ball marvelously on hole number one to position a 16-foot birdie attempt. Four putts later he was on his way to a front nine score of 10 over 46, falling from sixth to ninth and out of a trip to state where he finished eighth last year.

It looked bleak. He hit a lot of balls well, but they all seemed to go long as he faced downhill chips and putts all day and just couldn't figure out the speed of the greens.

Elliot is a grinder and rarely throws in the towel. He reeled off six straight pars starting on the ninth hole on the way to a back nine 38 and reclaimed sixth place and a trip to state with a total 84/84, 168 total score, six strokes better than last year's score on the same course. Last year's champ Nick Betrozoff of Valley finished second with a 149 while Ilwaco's Kenneth Sheldon shot 71/67, 139, for medalist honors. The state championship is May 27 and 28 in Richland at Colombia Point Golf Course.