Bears dethrone Bellarmine

The other two were No. 3 in their own schools’ lineups, getting hot at the right time.

Who would you have bet on in a sudden-death playoff to decide the Narrows League tournament boys champion?

In regulation, Olympia High’s Dominick Francks had plenty of company pushing him right to the end in Bellarmine Prep sophomore Brett Manke and Central Kitsap freshman Aubrey McKenzie. All three finished the second round at even-par 144 at Lake Spanaway Golf Course on Wednesday.

On the first extra hole, Francks’ experience won out. He was the only one of the three to hit the green in regulation, and he made par to defend his league championship.

Other medalists included Bellarmine Prep’s Jordan Ferreira (1-over 145), the 4A girls league champion who won for the first time since 2010; Capital’s Brent Chapin (165), who beat Wilson’s Kyle Kass in a two-hole playoff in 3A boys; and Wilson’s Shayna Jamieson (173) in 3A girls.

The Olympia boys broke Bellarmine Prep’s eight-year reign as 4A boys league tournament champion. The Lions’ girls team won its 13th league in a row.

The Capital boys and Timberline girls captured the team championships in 3A.

When the day began, Francks was the leader and overwhelming favorite to claim the boys crown. And walking up the 16th fairway clinging to a three-shot lead, he turned his golf cap upside down to wear.

“The rally cap,” he said, “was unsuccessful.”

Or a bad omen. His 7-iron tee shot at No. 17, playing nearly 200 yards, went long and left. He faced a 16-foot par putt, which he ran past the hole. And right after that, Manke rolled in a 16-footer for birdie.

Needing to make a 3-footer to keep his lead, Francks missed – and walked off with double bogey.

On the first playoff hole, a difficult dogleg-left par 4, Francks had a 170-yard approach shot and landed it in the middle of the green.

“It was the first good iron shot of the day,” Francks said.

Manke’s chip from the front of the green checked up short, and he missed a 14-footer for par. McKenzie missed a 7-footer to extend the playoff.

For Manke, it was a big moment. He was the only one on his team to clinch a spot at the Class 4A state championships in Spokane.

“I thought it was pretty cool playing with a guy going to Stanford (in Francks),” Manke said. “I was pretty nervous for the playoff … but I have been playing pretty good lately.”

Chapin also had to win a playoff. Two bogeys were enough to crown the sophomore known as “Minion” 3A boys winner. His final-round 78 was a personal best.

“It is definitely a confidence-booster,” Chapin said.

Some of the other high-placing South Sound golfers who clinched spots at the state championships include Olympia’s Brendan McCauley (151) in 4A boys; Yelm’s Justin Sevier and Drew Kolar in 3A boys (both 168); Yelm’s TiAnna Ford (179), who was the runner-up to Jamieson in 3A girls; and Timberline’s Ally Redifer (180) and Franchesca Borjay (186).