Papermaker golfers end Union’s run

The bees were stinging the greens Thursday, at Camas Meadows.

Brian Humphreys shot an even-par round of 36 strokes. He came within a few feet of chipping in an eagle on the ninth hole, but had no problem settling for a birdie.

Braeden Campbell was 3-over after the first three holes, before sinking a clutch par putt on the fourth hole. He went 1-under the rest of the round, dropped in a birdie putt on the seventh hole and finished with a 38.

Brett Ball battled an illness that sapped his energy, but he still managed to shoot a 38.

But on this day, Levi Holscher had the defining performance for the Camas High School boys golf team. He shot a 37 for the Papermakers while golfing in the same group as Union’s Eddie Abellar, who shot a 34, and Ben Gruher, who shot a 41. Abellar and Humphreys were the only two who had a better day than Holscher.

“I just focused on each and every shot,” Holscher said. “It feels so good to turn in that 37.”

Those four Camas golfers who shot under 40 helped the Papermakers defeat the Titans 149-155. Union had won 33 matches in a row before Thursday’s loss. The win gives Camas the edge in the race for the league championship.

“This is the last chance I had to beat Union before I graduate,” Campbell said. “This is the biggest win I have been a part of since we won districts when I was a freshman.”

Campbell, Humphreys and Ball remember losing to Union by one stroke in 2012. Head coach Ed Givens said the Titans have had the Papermakers number for the last few years.

“We fought so hard and came so close last year,” Humphreys said. “It feels awesome to get it back this year.”

They all agreed that Holscher was the difference maker.

“That was his best round in competition,” Campbell said. “I knew me, Brian and Brett would be there. We just needed one of the others to shoot a low score, and that was Levi.”

Camas hosts Prairie today and plays in the Prairie Invitational Wednesday, at the Cedars on Salmon Creek.

The Papermakers have one more league match to go, against Battle Ground Oct. 3. The district tournament follows, Oct. 7 and 8, at the Tri-Mountain golf course in Ridgefield.

“Getting a league title would be our first step toward districts. We really want to win that,” Campbell said. “We would also like to win the Prairie Invite so we can sweep all the tournaments.”