Friday Harbor's McKee advances to State, Bune and Cuomo qualify as alternates | Golf

Tyler McKee qualified for the 1A State Golf Tournament and Quinn Bune and Megan Cuomo qualified as first alternates Wednesday at the Tri-District Tournament at Eagles Pride in Tacoma.

It was, Coach Jack Rice said, a tough day on the course but a good day in the playoffs.

All three qualified for state, or possible appearances at state, in sudden death playoffs. McKee, a senior, shot 90 to tie for 34th. In the playoff, he shot par on the 491-yard, par 5 first hole to secure a spot at state.

All told, about 70 male golfers competed in the Tri-District Tournament; 34 advanced to the State Tournament.

Bune, a junior, finished with 91 and won the playoff to secure a spot as an alternate. Junior Taylor Molloy finished out of the running with 100.

Cuomo, vying for her third consecutive appearance at the State Tournament, shot 98 here last year and 107 the year before. She struggled this year, hitting into the water on the par 5, 450-yard sixth hole and carding a costly 13. She finished with 108 to tie for 20th; the top 19 of 36 women advanced to state. But she won the sudden death playoff to become first alternate; that was a challenge in itself, as the playoff didn't begin until 8:45 p.m.

For the alternates, there is a chance of playing in the State Tournament. If an athlete isn't at the tee five minutes before tee time — no matter the reason — then the alternate automatically steps in.

The State Tournament is May 25-26 at Columbia Point Golf Course in Richland. The course was ranked fourth in Washington by Western Golf Alliance. It measures 6,571 yards from the Championship tees and features mounded, rolling fairways and large, undulating greens.

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