Olympic College golf opened NWAC league play this week at Avalon Golf Club in Burlington. The two-day event hosted by Skagit Valley College featured familiar conference rivals and proved just how tight the race for NWAC Championship qualification will be this spring. With a bit of rain, a bit of sun, a bit of chill giving way to warm afternoons, it was spring golf at its best. Avalon proved a tough test, demanded precision from tee to green.

On the men's side, Bellevue College continued their strong run, edging Columbia Basin by eight strokes to take the team title. The Rangers placed sixth but were just two strokes behind host Skagit Valley for fifth—a narrow margin that underscored the competitive nature of this early league contest.

Freshman Casey Carter led the way for OC, posting a two-round total of 158 (+14). Team captain Orlando Chiquiti carded a 164 (+20), while fellow sophomore Seth Headrick followed closely at 166 (+22). Freshman Inde Turgeon posted 174 (+30), and sophomores Ashton Purser (184, +40) and Spencer Harader (187, +43) rounded out the lineup. Bellevue's Saum Sabetian claimed medalist honors at 145 (+1).

For the women, Columbia Basin bested Bellevue by eight strokes in the team standings with a collective score of +92. The Ranger women landed sixth overall at +184, just 11 strokes shy of fifth. In a tightly packed individual leaderboard, sophomore captain Elizabeth Mellum delivered a top-10 performance, placing seventh with a total of 180 (+36). Freshman Ava Guthrie finished in 15th with a 197 (+53), while sophomore Kate Peterson finished 30th with 239 (+95). Centralia's Jayda Thomas topped the field individually at 158 (+14).

The Rangers now shift their focus quickly to another key league event this weekend in Centralia. Round one begins Sunday, April 27, with the final round Monday, April 28. Both teams are eyeing top-five finishes in the overall league standings as they push toward qualification for the NWAC Championships in May at Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima.