Salme Wins District Title to Help Pirates 3-Peat as Team Champs

With three state-qualifying performances by the Adna boys golf team, and a second individual district championship for Braeden Salme, the Pirates secured the team three-peat an won their third straight 2B District 4 championship Thursday afternoon at Mint Valley Golf Course in Longview. 

The Pirates returned three golfers for the second round of districts Thursday, including Salme, who also won an individual title as a freshman. After finishing runner-up last season, Salme proved himself again as the best golfer in the district, shooting an 86 to bring his two-day total to a tournament-best 168 and secure his second district title in three years. 

Andrew Grimm finished in second place behind Salme by five strokes, carding an 89 to bring his tournament total to 173. 

“We worked hard, and battled through some tough holes,” Grimm said. “We hit a few bombs down the fairway, hit a few trees too, but in the end we came out on top.” 

Coming in fifth for the Pirates was Josh McGuire, who shot a 99 to bring his tournament total to 184 and qualify for his first state tournament. 

The three Pirates will head to Tumwater Valley Golf Course next Tuesday for round one of the 2B state championship tournament, with hopes to be back Wednesday for the final round. 

Other state qualifiers included Kalama’s Cooper Hahn (180), Sebastian Britt of Wahkiakum (182), and Ilwaco’s Westin Billeci (190). 

For the girls, Adna’s Natalie Humphrey was the lone state qualifier, finishing fifth in the final state spot. 

The Pirates had three golfers qualify for round two, as they made the trip back down to complete the final 18 holes of the 36-hole tournament. 

Humphrey shot a 113 on day two to bring her tournament total to 227 strokes, enough to secure her fifth-place in districts and qualify for the state tournament.

Jaylee Humphrey didnt finish far behind, taking home seventh after shooting a 116 to end her tournament on a total of 238. 

Finishing right after the Humphrey’s was Miriam Wilson, who shot a 123 to secure eighth in the district on a score of 239. 

Natalie Humphrey will take the course next Tuesday at Tumwater Valley Golf Course for round one of the 2B girls state championship tournament.