High school golf: Defending state champion from Union just misses playoff

Jade Gruher of Union, the defending state champion, finished a stroke out of a playoff this year. Note the 66 in the first round. Gruher had an eagle and five birdies on Tuesday. Graphic courtesy WIAA

Jade Gruher officially finished fourth this year, but was just a stroke out of first place; Eli Huntington of Camas finished third in 4A boys

The defending champion from Union had one incredible, memorable day on the golf course, but struggled, by her standards, on the second day.

Jude Gruher, though, can say she put on one heckuva defense of her 2022 state championship in girls golf.

Gruher fired a 6-under par 66 Tuesday, the first day of the Class 4A state girls golf tournament at Indian Canyon Golf Course in Spokane. She followed up with a 76 on Wednesday, finishing a stroke out of a playoff.

Officially, she finished fourth while three other golfers tied for first place after 36 holes.

Amber Li of Newport won the WIAA Class 4A title on the third playoff hole.

Gruher had an eagle and five birdies on her opening round, with just one bogey.

Jacinda Lee of Camas finished in sixth place. Camas finished third in the team standings.

In Class 4A boys, Eli Huntington of Camas finished in a tie for third place.He finished at -4 for the tournament held at Creek at Qualchan in Spokane. The winner, Ryan Takeshita of Sumner, finished at -7.

The Mountain View Thunder finished second in the team standings of Class 3A boys at Indian Summer in Olympia.

Spencer Moody finished in a tie for seventh place, seven strokes behind the champion, Baylor Larrabee of Ferndale. Grady Millar finished in a tie for 11th for Mountain View.

In Class 2A boys, Dane Huddleston of Woodland finished in a tie for eighth place, four strokes off the lead at Liberty Lake Golf Course.

Jack Kendrick finished in 12th place, the top finisher for Columbia River. The Rapids finished second as a team.

Jacob Parker of Seton Catholic finished in a tie for fifth in the 1A boys tournament at Riverside Golf Club in Chehalis.

In 1A girls, Gracie Harlow of King’s Way Christian and Sabrina Joner of La center tied for ninth place, also held at Riverside.