Camas girls play lights out golf

Elise Filuk and Reilly Whitlock needed to play a 19th hole to determine the district champion May 10, on the Lewis River Golf Course in Woodland.

The friendly rivals hit their approach shots over the water and onto the green. Filuk missed her birdie putt from farther away from the hole and settled for par. Whitlock nailed her birdie putt to secure the title.

“I honestly thought that second shot was going to put pressure on Reilly. It didn’t,” Filuk said. “You can’t be mad losing to a birdie. She made the putt. I didn’t.”

Filuk was heartbroken over the playoff loss, but when she went back through her round as a whole, she felt better. Especially with that even par 35 on the front nine.

“I’ve never played well at this place. It definitely felt good to be in contention today,” she said. “I made some mistakes out there, but I also made some great shots. Nobody plays a perfect round of golf.”

The Papermakers played well enough to win the district team title by 19 strokes over rival Union. Filuk took second place with rounds of 77 and 78 for a two-day total of 155. Hailey Oster and Abby Jiang tied for fourth place with a 167. Emma Cox earned sixth place with a 169.

“I achieved all of my goals this year,” Filuk said. “We beat Union for the league title, won districts and now we are off to state.”

Connie Wang won the bi-district tournament Monday. She shot an 80 on the Home Course, in DuPont, Washington. Lauryn Tsukimura took second place with an 82.

This means all six Camas golfers are headed to state.

“I hope we have a good time,” Filuk said. “State last year was pretty awful for me, playing wise, but I also have some of my best memories with the team. I have high hopes for all of us. We’re going to finish strong.”

Filuk hopes to play her best golf of the season at the state tournament May 24 and 25, on the Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

“All I’m thinking about is playing my game,” she said. “It’s a good course for me, I just have to put my head down and do the work.”