RIDGEFIELD — The Union boys golf team reached a new high by going really, really low Tuesday afternoon at Tri-Mountain Golf Course.
Keith Lobis fired a school-record 6-under par 66 to win the Class 4A District 4 boys golf tournament at Tri-Mountain Golf Course, leading four Titans to top-four finishes. He recorded a two-day total of 7-under 137 for a four-shot victory.
“It’s feels pretty amazing, but I’m actually so happy we got four players through to state,” Lobis said.
Official allocations for the state championship in the spring will be determined at a later date, but Southwest Washington officials expect the top four 4A golfers from district to qualify directly to state.
That would make it a Union party.
“Being the district champion is pretty cool, but I’m excited for my teammates more than anything,” Lobis said.
Two-time district champion Ben Gruher finished second. He shot a 69 on Tuesday, yet still finished four shots behind Lobis. At least he lost to a teammate, he said with a smile.
“I had my A game, but he had his A-plus plus game,” Gruher said. “Last year if I shot this score, I would have won by five strokes. This year, I lost by four. I’m not too disappointed though because I played really well.”
Hayden Meeker finished third and Reece Boyce took fourth. If this had been a regular-season stroke-play event, the Titans would have been 8-under par for the two days.
Gruher called that “unbelievable.”
“It’s just an honor to be part of a team doing this kind of thing,” said Gruher, a senior. “Team-wise, we’re going out on an absolute high note.”
After the top four, the next six golfers are expected to qualify for a bi-district tournament in the spring for another chance to make it to state.
Lobis knows he does not have to play in that qualifier, not after this individual district title.
He had a couple of eagles in his special round.
“Both times I hit driver-hybrid into the green. I had 10 feet on the first and about 15 feet on the second,” Lobis said.
He was true on both putts.
“I got pretty excited after those. Pretty cool. I had never had two eagles in one round.”
Lobis entered Tuesday one stroke behind Boyce but took the lead with a 4-under 33 on the front nine. He then got his second eagle of the day on the 13th hole.
“I talked to some of my teammates out there,” Lobis said. “I knew I was in pretty good position.”
The 66 is the best tournament round of his life.
Just another milestone in a day full of them for the Union Titans.
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