Eklund, W.F. West Win District Title at Tumwater Valley

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Back at Tumwater Valley Golf Course for the 2A District 4 girls golf championships after a second-place finish at the league championship meet last week, W.F. West did one better Monday and Tuesday afternoon, capturing the team district championship for the first time in 20 years, behind an individual title performance from Natalie Eklund. 

“As much as golf is an individual sport, the team aspect is also really important,” Bearcats coach Matt Klovdahl said. “We always tell the girls that every stroke counts and is important, and this tournament was a testimony to that.”

Eklund had a two-day score of 165, finishing one stroke ahead of 2A EvCo champion Britt Rajcich of Aberdeen, for the district crown. 

Eklund carded a 77 on the first day, leading Rajcich by five strokes for the tournament lead on Monday. Heading into the 18th and final hole of Day 2, the pair were tied in the top group battling for a district title. 

The junior took the final hole by a stroke to take home the title, and help W.F. West capture the team title by a mere four points over Aberdeen. 

Behind Eklund, W.F. West also had a strong showing from Grace Oien, who finished 11th with a two-day score of 190, Kendall Rasmussen, who finished 19th with a two-day score of 203, and Macee Shannon, who finished 20th with a two-day score of 204. 



With a cutoff of 205, four of W.F. West’s six golf competitors from districts will advance to the state tournament next week at Liberty Lake Golf Course near Spokane. The Bearcats’ Abby Alexander finished just outside the cut, carding a 208.

Elsewhere, Centralia’s Samantha Johnston had a two-day score of 185, good for eighth and a spot at the state tournament as the Tigers’ lone golfer who made it through to Day 2 of districts. 

Rochester saw two of its golfers advance to the state tournament, with Isabella Masias scoring a 191 for 13th at districts and Audrey Williams scoring 199 for 17th. 

The last local to qualify for state was Black Hills’ Ellie Johnson, who scored a 204 and was in the second-to-last qualifying spot. 

Tumwater finished seventh as a team but did not see any of its golfers advance to state. The T-Birds’ top scorer was Josie Monti, who carded a 208 and finished 23rd.