Freshman Ryan Ho led the way for Redmond High’s boys golf team as it snagged second place in the 3A KingCo medalist tournament on Oct. 10 at Snohomish Golf Course. Liberty High took first with a score of 379, Redmond had a 388 and Bellevue took third with a 390.

Ho tied for second with Bellevue freshman Ian Siebers with 72s, one stroke behind junior Liberty winner Chase McIntosh with a 71. Snohomish is a par-72 course.

Over 18 holes, Ho had two birdies, which included a stunning 40-foot putt on the eighth hole to notch a 2 on a par 3.

“It was pretty incredible,” said Ho, noting that the long birdie helped propel him forward to succeed the rest of the way.

“It felt really good. I felt like it was one of the greatest accomplishments for me,” Ho said of the round. “All I wanted to do was stay consistent and not get over-excited. Keep my cool throughout the round.”

Ho said he was a bit nervous at the start of the round, but his teammates were supportive and he gained confidence hole by hole. The 14-year-old started golfing when he was 5 and he has loved the game ever since.

Golf can be frustrating, Ho said, but he keeps his eyes forward on the next hole and works to get some strokes back.

Redmond junior Sean Kato tied for sixth with Juanita senior Devin Andrews with 75s; Redmond senior Michael Cummings shot a 79 in a four-way tie for 16th with Mercer Island senior Noah Funk, Lake Washington junior Eric Jessen and Liberty junior Cole Sherman; and Redmond junior Connor Golembeski shot an 80 and tied for 20th with Lake Washington junior Montana Carranza.

The Mustangs were the regular-season champs with a 7-0 record.

Redmond coach Steve Wiebe was named 3A KingCo coach of the year and Ho, Kato and Golembeski were all-KingCo second teamers.

Redmond will next compete in the 3A SeaKing District 2 tournament on Oct. 25 at Riverbend Golf Course in Kent.

Ho said the key to the Mustangs shining at district is, “We’re gonna motivate each other and say, ‘Hey, we’re gonna go to state, guys.'”