Von Wasson made things a little more exciting than they could’ve been, but in the end, that just made the Centralia junior’s victory all the sweeter, as he took home his first 2A District 4 title at Washougal’s Orchard Hills Golf Club on Tuesday.
Wasson beat Columbia River’s Noah Larson on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. The two finished the two-day tournament tied at 1-over 141 on the par-70 course, and both parred the first hole to open the playoff. But moving up to the fifth hole, Larson bogeyed, while Wasson parred once again to take the crown.
The Centralia junior came oh-so-close to winning in the allotted 36 holes, as River’s Jack Kendrick — who entered the day leading by a stroke — fell off his blazing pace on Day 2, finishing 5-over on the day. That put Wasson, who ended Day 1 at even-par, in the driver’s seat, though Larson made up ground with a 3-under day to fall to 141. Wasson got through the front-9 still even, and went into the 18th hole just needing one more par to win. But his tee shot took an unlucky bounce behind a tree and, needing an extra shot to escape, he bogeyed the hole to finish in the tie.
“We had a little bit of time to chat, but he refocused well, and he was ready to come out and play,” Centralia coach Hal Gronseth said.
Two-time defending champ Dane Huddleston, out of Woodland, finished in third at 143.
Black Hills’ Luke Fenner rounded out the top 10 with a final score at 23-over 163. W.F. West’s Ben Halverstadt tied for 14th at 165.
Gabe Johnston led Tumwater with a 19th-place finish at 170. Reagan Broome and Kaden Clark finished in a three-way tie for 20th — and the final State spot — after ending at 171; Broome won the playoff, making the cut.
