Redmond’s Connor Golembeski shot his way to the top of the local junior golf heap on July 20-21.
The 15-year-old linkster not only won the 14-15 age group with a score of 147, he edged Seattle’s Joe Klemencic (first place with 149 in the 16-17 age group) for the overall top spot at the Washington Junior Golf Association (WJGA) District 2 Championships at Inglewood Golf Club in Kenmore.
Chip Golembeski, Connor’s dad, said his son has been golfing “since he could stand — that kid came out … he likes to swing things.”
Connor has been golfing competitively since he was 6 or 7 years old and won his third straight District 2 age-group championship at Inglewood. It’s his first overall district title.
“He just has a passion for it. He played well,” said Chip of Connor’s 1-over, two-day performances on the par-73 course. While Chip didn’t get a chance to watch his son at districts, Connor’s mom, Karin Mathews, checked out the action and it was “pretty special for her,” Chip said.
“On the first day, I was hitting the ball really well. Every shot I hit was dead solid,” Connor said.
On the following day, Connor had the lowest total amount of putts ever in one of his rounds, including some 10-15-footers that helped him along the way to victory.
Connor said he’s focused on the course and always strives to have fun.
“It’s my favorite thing to do,” he said.
Redmond’s Sean Kato was right near the apex with a second-place 149 in the 14-15 division and Woodinville’s Evan Koessler (a Redmond High student) tied for 10th with a 177. Redmond’s Costas Panay also participated in the tournament, but didn’t complete his rounds.
Also on the boys’ side for Redmond, Andrew Lim took first amongst the 8-11s with an 80, Akshay Anand placed third with an 82 and Arnav Mittal notched fifth with an 88.
Also for Redmond, in the 12-13 division, Ryan Ho was fifth with a 171, and in 16-17 action, Michael Cummings was 27th with a 181.
Golembeski, Kato, Koessler, Lim, Anand, Mittal and Ho all qualify for next week’s WJGA state tournament at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton.
REDMOND GIRLS
In the girls 12-13s, Adithi Anand took first with a 171 and Emma Lim tied for third with a 180.
In the 16-17s, Ally Collier placed fourth with a 183, and in the 14-15s, McKenna Canty took fourth with a 184.
Anand, Lim, Collier and Canty also qualify for state in Bremerton.
