Three Raiders compete at state golf

Three Lake Roosevelt Raiders competed at the WIAA/Dairy Farmers of Washington/Les Schwab Tires state golf tournament at Oakbrook Country Club May 21-22.

After taking the District 5-6 championship a week earlier, Tanceia Stanczak was in her third state tournament and was looking to improve from last year's mark while competing in field of 40 athletes. She shot a 104 on the first day and made the cut to move on to the second round, according to the WIAA website.

In the second round, Stanczak shot a 110, giving her a combined score of 214 for the tournament. That placed Stanczak 13th in the state for B girls to cap her LR career.

“What makes the state tournament great is the pressure-packed environment and the chance for our kids to meet golfers from around the state,” Raider Coach Steve Files said. “Players are announced on the first tee and are followed by galleries. Our kids don’t experience those distractions in the regular season.”

Austin Rosenbaum, who took second last week at the district tournament, shot a 107 on the first day of competition and missed the cut to play the second round.

Jordan Allen (sixth at district) shot a 136, also missing the cut. Both were first-timers at the state tournament in Lakewood, Wash., and may return next year for another shot at making the second round.

“It was the first trip to state for our two boys,” Files noted. “They were both understandably nervous and got off to shaky starts but eventually settled down and finished strong.”

Files noted that Johnny McCraigie (seventh at district in her first year of golf) made the trip as an alternate but did not get to compete.

Next season the golf squad looks to build on experience gained this season. Files said Rosenbaum and Allen, along with Brandon Desautel “all have an excellent chance of making state in 2014.”