Golf

The Tigers, who finished second in last week’s Special District 2 finals behind senior medalist Maya Hatton, toured the 5,416-yard par-72 layout in Banks in 432 strokes to stand in 10th place in the 12-team field.

Taft struggled to a 12th-place standing behind first-place Bandon in the 13-team event at 6,346-yard, par-72 Quail Valley Golf Course entering Tuesday’s final round.

Members of the Taft High boys’ golf team might as well be caregivers, then, because the stakes will be high and the pressure immense over the next two days when the small-school OSAA State Golf Championships are contested at Quail Valley Golf Course near Banks.

Maybe it was fate that allowed senior Maya Hatton to arrange a date with State with her Taft High mates in the District 2 girls golf championships.

Logan Merry will be taking some shiny new hardware with him in remembrance of his time as Taft High’s leading player when he transfers from the school this summer.

The Taft High boys golf team, led by duplicate 83s from leading players Logan Merry and Bonny Patel, virtually clinched a spot in next week’s State championships under brilliant skies before the home crowd Monday at Salishan Spa & Golf Resort.

After nearly two decades of teaching girls golf, no one knows better than Taft High coach Heather Hatton how fickle the sport can be.

A longtime coach and two leading players will bid farewell to their respective golf programs as District participants Tuesday when the Taft High boys and girls conclude play in competition to determine the field for the State championships.

At stake beginning at 10 a.m. Monday and Tuesday at Salishan Spa & Golf Resort will be a berth in the State finals, May 14-15 at Banks.

The Taft High boys golf team used a team-leading 87 from junior Logan Merry on Monday in preparations this weekend for next week’s Class 3A Special District 2 Championships in Gleneden Beach.