Making a strong first impression

With the perfect spin on his approaches and putts, Brian Humphreys shot 5-under on the front nine holes at the Green Mountain golf course.

“I wasn’t happy with how I hit the ball, but I made up for it with my chipping and putting,” said the Camas High School freshman. “I wasn’t expecting to birdie eight and nine. I just hit everything exactly how I wanted to, and it all came together at once.”

Humphreys’ score of 31, Alec Geenty’s 37, Braeden Campbell’s 38 and Brett Ball’s 38 helped the Papermakers defeat Evergreen 144-180 Thursday. David Wright had a 38 and Eugene Hsu added a 41.

Plainsmen head coach George Konzek said Humphreys’ 5-under is the lowest 9-hole score he has seen in 23 years of golf. He wanted Humphreys to continue to the back nine to see if he could set a new course record.

“He was absolutely under control,” said Camas head coach Ed Givens. “Those last two putts were a snake. He could have dropped off the ridge at any time.”

Camas, Hockinson and Mountain View tied for third place in the 18-team standings at the Jeff Hudson Invitational Sept. 11, at the Tri-Mountain golf course in Ridgefield. Humphreys finished 3-over par 72 to tie for third place individually. Campbell and Geenty tied for 19th place with rounds of 81. Hsu tied for 22nd with an 82.

The Papermakers get another crack at Tri-Mountain during the district tournament, Oct. 8 and 9. Before that, there are two other tournaments to prepare for. Camas hosts a 4-team challenge with Ilwaco, Skyview and Union Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Camas Meadows. The first group tees off at 1:30 p.m. The Papermakers enter the Prairie Invitational the next day, on the Cedars of Salmon Creek.

Givens hopes these tournaments prepare the Camas golfers for the ultimate opportunity — a spot in the state tournament, May 21 and 22, 2013, at Camas Meadows.

“We’ve been to some nice courses around the state. This one is really going to stand out,” he said. “You can just imagine what it’s going to be like on that last hole, with everybody watching from the railing. My job is to get as many kids as we can to that tournament.”

Washougal golfer hits longest drive

Washougal High School senior Beau Scott nailed the longest drive at the Jeff Hudson Invitational. His tee shot on the third hole at Tri-Mountain traveled more than 320 feet.

Scott earned 32nd place at the tournament with a round of 84. Sophomore Bryce Samwel finished in 27th place with an 83.

The Panthers lost a tiebreaker to Mark Morris Wednesday, at Longview Country Club. Scott shot a 38, Samwel added a 42, Michael Moran nailed a 46 and Jacob Weis had a 57. Both teams finished with a combined total of 183 strokes, but the fifth golfer from Mark Morris shot 11 strokes better than the fifth golfer from Washougal.