Sports
Enumclaw Golfer Wins State Junior Championship
After 2 second-place finishes, Salsbury wins it all.
After finishing second twice, Enumclaw’s Tyler Salsbury won his first Washington Junior Golf Association state championship Friday.
Salsbury’s even-par 72 gave him a three-round total of 6-under 210 total – just ahead of Shoreline's Chris Babcock at 211. Babcock shot a 68 on the final day to make it close.
“To me, this is No. 1 – and my goal since I have been playing golf,” said Salsbury, who has given the University of Washington an oral commitment. “I wanted to win a state championship."
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The key hole in the tournament was the 17th at the Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla.
Babcock’s tee shot on the long par 3 sailed left and into brush, and he ended up making double bogey. Salsbury hit his 5-iron tee shot to within 10 feet for an easy par.
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Salsbury, Babcock, University Place’s James Feutz (tied for fifth at 216) and Kirkland’s Frank Garber (WJGA winner in 14-15-year-old age group) all qualified for the state’s Hogan Cup squad, which will be played Aug. 12-14 in Portland.
Salsbury will now share a perpetual trophy with PGA greats Fred Couples and Ryan Moore, among other past WJGA Champions.
Auburn’s Alexus Song won the WJGA girls title, according to an article in the Tacoma News Tribune.
Salsbury qualified for state by winning the recent District 6 Championships. He sank a 1-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat Vinnie Murphy of Edgewood. Both shot 147 in the two regular 18-hole play. Also in the boys 16-17 division, David Smith of Enumclaw shot a 174.
In the boys 14-15 division, Kolton Tinney shot a 203. In the 12-13 age group, Jared Beals shot a 181, Josh Erickson a 187 and Carson Erwin a 203. In the girls 16-17 category, Tiffany Wilkening tallied a 179. All of those golfers also are from Enumclaw.