Chase Caruso wins EWAC 1B golf match

CLE ELUM–Pirate golfer Chase Caruso topped the competition here May 4, leading a field of 22 women golfers.

The match was played at Suncadia Resort's Prospector Golf Course, and it is known as a difficult, tree-lined venue with a high level of difficulty.

Caruso shot a 95, 49 on the front nine and 46 on the back to finish in first place. She was four strokes under WWVA's Macyn Sherger, who also scored 49 on the first nine, but shot a 50 on the back. Caruso and Sherger were in the same group, along with TriCities Prep's Abigail Hodges, who finished third with a 101 score.

Chase was also named First Team All-Conference.

"I was happy to be out golfing and enjoyed playing on such a nice course," Caruso commented.

Pirate Jett Slusser carded a 98 to finish in seventh place, although tied with sixth-place Columbia's Will Neylon. Slusser shot a 53 on the front nine holes and came on strong in the second round with a 45. Slusser, an eighth grader, was named Second Team All-Conference.

"Jett also had a fine day," Al Damron, assistant coach, said. "Jett finished the year strong."

Brady Bott finished 18 holes with a 115 score, shooting a 57 on the front and 58 on the back. Bott tied with Jake Becht of Cle Elum-Roslyn for 21st place, Damron said. "Brady struggled some but still finished in the middle of the pack with 115."

"All in all, we had a great golf season, all be it COVID shortened," Damron said. "We are looking forward to the future of these great kids and hope to bring more on board so we can continue the success of the program.

"What would normally be a state-qualification match turns out to be the equivalent of the state tournament," commented Damron. "All three PHS golfers would have made it to state if it were held."

Forty-one boys and 22 girls from Eastern Washington's 1B, 2B and 1A divisions competed in an 18-hole match.