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Friends first, foremost

PREP GOLF: Timberline's Jordan, Capital's Kanda have friendly rivalry on golf course

GAIL WOOD; The Olympian | • Published September 17, 2009

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It’s not that they don’t want to win.

John Jordan, Timberline’s gutsy, grip-it-and-rip-it senior golfer, and Kyle Kanda, Capital’s long-driving senior with the soft touch around the greens, both covet winning. But somehow this rivalry that began five years ago when they were eighth graders hasn’t driven a wedge between their friendship.

It’s a friendly rivalry.

“No question I want to beat Kyle whenever we play,” Jordan said. “But I’m also hoping he plays his best. I want to beat him when he’s playing his best.”

Typically, rivals aren’t friends.

But these two rivals shot a practice round together Sunday, exchanged tips on putting and just joked around. Today, the two seniors who have qualified for state every year since they were freshmen, will go toe-to-toe again in a dual meet at Olympia Country & Golf Club.

“We’re good friends,” Kanda said. “When I play against John, we just go out there and have fun. We talk. We go back and forth. Joke and stuff.”

Kanda, last year’s league MVP, and Jordan, who placed fourth in state two years ago as a sophomore, are the league’s top returning players. Timberline’s Cameron Peck, the top-ranked high school golfer in the country last year, graduated and is playing at Texas A&M.

Neither Kanda nor Jordan knew what the record was in their rivalry, reflecting on their focus – friendship. However, sometimes when they play each other in a practice round, they’ll bet $5.

“We always try to beat each other,” Kanda said. “You definitely want to win.”

But it’s not winning at the cost of a friendship.

“They take turns beating each other,” Capital coach Greg Santora said. “There’s no dominance. They’re pretty close. It’s a matter of who is the best that day.”

They have similar games. Both can hit the long drives, booming tee shots as far as 290 yards. And both are accurate around the greens with irons and a putter.

“When John is hot, he can be lights out with the putter,” Timberline coach Don Backman said.

But over the summer, Jordan said he struggled putting, finally remedying some inconsistencies by slowing his stroke.

“It was a rhythm thing,” Jordan said. “I fixed my tempo.”

It’s not an accident Jordan and Kanda are their league’s top guns. Jordan golfed nearly every day over the summer, missing only one or two days. Kanda got up early on weekdays over the summer to do maintenance at the Olympia Country & Golf Club, working from 5 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and then taking off to golf.

“I pretty much played golf all summer,” Kanda said.

Jordan’s summer highlight was a runner-up finish at a Junior World qualifier at Tumwater Valley Golf Course. Shooting rounds of 74-70, Jordan finished in a tie for a qualifying spot. But instead of a playoff, the tie was settled with a scorecard playoff.

“He shot a 69 on the last round and he got to go,” Jordan said. “It was really frustrating.”

Jordan and Kanda are golf fanatics. They watch golf on TV and their bedroom walls have golf-related photos and stories hung on their walls. Jordan has golf trophies he’s won on his dresser.

They both started golfing at about age 5.

“I’d just go out with my dad and golf,” Jordan said. “I loved being around my dad. He taught me how to swing and hit.”

Kanda comes from a golfing family. His grandfather, Dick Kanda, started a junior golf tournament in Olympia that now bares his name.

“I’ve been playing golf since I could hold a golf club in my hands,” Kanda said. “I started playing in tournaments when I was 8.”

Backman is aware of the rivalry between Kanda and Jordan. But not wanting to add pressure, he never mentions it.

“I don’t focus on rivalries,” Backman said. “You can’t get caught up with who you’re playing against. You just play your best. You can’t say, ‘I beat my guy.’ It’s not match play. It’s team play.”

Capital split with Timberline last year but still won the league championship.

The friendship between Kanda and Jordan helps take the edge off a match. They’ll joke and talk about a blown shot or missed opportunity.

“Sometimes John will start getting mad and I’ll just tell him to settle down,” Kanda said. “I’ll just say we’re just having fun. He’ll settle down.”

They often exchange fist pumps after a good shot or a good score on a hole. They’ll praise good shots and even give advice on bad ones.

“Kyle is laid back, really a nice guy,” Jordan said. “We’re good friends. It’s a lot more fun because he’ll talk with you. Some tournaments guys won’t talk with you. Kyle can be a little bit of a goofball. We’re both goofballs. It helps take the pressure off.”

And it’s also made for a gracious rivalry.

Gail Wood: 360-754-5443

gwood@theolympian.com

GOLF PREVIEW CAPSULE

Best player

It’s a coin toss between Timberline’s John Jordan and Capital’s Kyle Kanda. The friends are expected to be four-time state qualifiers.

Best long-ball hitters

Jordan has nearly driven the eighth hole at Tumwater Valley Golf Course, a 300-yard hole. He’s small, but he swings from his toes.

Best putter

Jordan again. Even opposing coaches say Jordan is lights out with the putter when he gets hot.

Biggest shoes to fill

Timberline coach Don Backman won’t have Cameron Peck in the lineup for the first time in four years. Peck, named his team’s most inspirational player four consecutive years, was named the 2008 Rolex Junior National Player of the Year and is now playing at Texas A&M.

T-Bird watch

With eight key players returning, Tumwater is favored to repeat as the 2A Evergreen Conference champ. The T-Birds are led by Jimmy Jensen, Kyle Schrader and Seth Nickerson.

Did you know?

Capital has been a virtual golf factory. In Greg Santora’s 30 years as coach at Capital, the Cougars are 247-36, and off to a 2-0 start this season.

Top 10 players to watch

1. John Jordan, Timberline, sr., four-time 3A state qualifier who has placed ninth, fourth and 14th at state the past three seasons.

2. Kyle Kanda, Capital, sr., league MVP, four-time 3A state qualifier.

3. Kyle Schrader, Tumwater, jr., placed 21st at 2A state.

4. Ben Talbot, Timberline, sr., first-team all league, 3A state qualifier.

5. Nick Mattox, Northwest Christian, sr., 2B state qualifier, sixth at state.

6. Ryan Smith, Black Hills, sr., 2A state qualifier.

7. Casey Worcester, Timberline, sr., 2nd team all league, state qualifier.

8. T.J. Griggs, Capital, jr., all-league.

9. Daniel Colon, North Thurston, sr., district qualifier.

10. Jimmy Jensen, Tumwater, sr., returning 2A state qualifier.

Gail Wood, The Olympian