The Olympic College Rangers golf teams displayed grit this weekend at the South Puget Sound Spring Invitational, battling alongside a mixed field of NWAC, NAIA, and NCAA programs at Tumwater Valley Golf Course. The weather offered a classic Pacific Northwest touch—chilly mornings, bright and clear afternoons, and only mild wind, making for nearly perfect scoring conditions on the slowly drying course.
Bellevue College swept the team titles, with their men finishing 15-over-par and their women 48-over, while Bellevue's Isaac Elaimy (69–70, -5) and Jaclyn Woo (75–73, +4) claimed individual medalist honors. The Rangers, meanwhile, gained valuable insights playing alongside some of the programs they are seeking to join in the future, landing sixth in both the men's and women's standings.
For the OC men, sophomore Seth Headrick led the way, carding rounds of 79 and 76 for a two-day total of 155 and a tie for 16th overall. Fellow sophomore and team captain Orlando Chiquiti posted rounds of 81–80 to take 29th, while freshman Casey Carter opened strong with a 78 before cooling off with an 84, tying for 30th. Rounding out the squad, Ashton Purser (84–94) and Spencer Harader (96–92) finished 39th and 42nd, respectively. The group landed just behind host South Puget Sound, showing competitive depth in a field loaded with top talent.
On the women's side, freshman Ava Guthrie continued her ascent, firing 84–86 to earn another top-10 finish, tying for 7th overall. Captain Elizabeth Mellum followed with a determined second round 88 after a tough start (94), finishing 13th. Sophomore Kate Peterson posted 111–118 to place 24th. The OC women matched the men with a 6th-place team finish, again proving their potential against a strong cross-division field.
Next up: Spring league play begins April 21 as the Rangers head north to Skagit Valley College and Avalon Golf Course. This marks the first of three consecutive league matches that will determine whether the Rangers qualify for the NWAC Championships in May at Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima. With confidence growing and the stakes rising, the Rangers are ready to make their move.
