Bainbridge wins memorial tourney Thursday despite high winds.
When it comes to weather at the Tim Higgins Memorial Golf Tournament, it truly seems you never know what you’re gonna get.
With high winds directly influencing the path of several golf balls in flight, not to mention adding a wind-chill factor that got under the skin of golfers and spectators alike, the 43rd annual Tim Higgins Memorial Golf Tournament still gave Olympic Peninsula golfers and coaches a chance to catch up while at the same time sharing in the memory of the late Tim Higgins, who died of unknown causes at just 17 years old.
And while the tournament itself reached 43 years on Thursday at Kitsap Golf & Country Club, Olympic boys golf coach Jim Rosendale said it never gets old.
“I think there’s kind of a synergy,” Rosendale said. “It’s a collaboration of energy built on tradition and that energy comes together here. We’re a disparate group. We’re 4A, 3A, 2A. We’re from all over.
“It’s a little bit of a coming home event.”
With the Higgins family (parents Joe and Katie and sister Pam Roy) on hand again, it was Bainbridge Island walking away with the Higgins title, which it last won in 2006 after skipping the event last year.
Led by Sean Leonard’s 3-over 74, the Spartans scored 318 team points to best second-place finishers South Kitsap and Peninsula, which each scored 334. South Kitsap won the event last year.
Locally, Olympic finished fifth, scoring 346 points led by fifth-place individual finisher Tyler Strafford. The junior shot a 78 to pace the Trojans. Central Kitsap was ninth among the 13 competing schools with a score of 360 while Klahowya finished 12th with 394.
With high winds cutting across the course throughout the tournament, golfers had to adjust constantly. Strafford said he just tried to keep it simple.
“I was just trying to hit straight shots and play smart really,” Strafford said.
While a junior, Strafford spent his freshman and sophomore years at South Kitsap. Higgins was especially fun for him as it was the first time he got to golf against his former squad.
“I thought it was fun going against my old coach and teammates,” he said.
Klahowya’s Tim Cathcart was one of several Eagles disappointed in the team’s low finish, especially coming off a 334-performance in a non-league match with Steilacoom. Cathcart shot an 85 in that match. But even despite the conditions, he said the Higgins is always a fun tradition to be a part of.
“I’ve always enjoyed coming out here,” Cathcart said. “I struggle on this course but I like it. It’s a challenging course.”
Klahowya coach Geoff Backlund said while his team’s scores weren’t where they’d like to be, it wasn’t bad all things considered.
“Given the elements I think they did alright,” he said. “They’re disappointed in their play. But this one is about coming out and having a good time.”
Backlund, who participated in the coaches game as well, said the event is always a great one to participate in, even if the Eagles didn’t quite perform up to their own expectations.
“Honestly, I think it’s because you get all these schools in Kitsap County and outside Kitsap. It’s a state-type field. There’s a lot of talent. It’s one they always look forward to, regardless of the weather and whatnot.”
After two consecutive years of sunshine, the event got rained on last year. This year, the wind forced the post-golf barbecue, provided by Minder Meats, indoors. But that didn’t keep anyone from enjoying the tournament again this year.
“In honor of Tim Higgins, what a great event to have,” CK coach Paul Stensen said. “And what a great place to have it.”
