Boys golf

A Ridgeview freshman was the only player at last week’s district boys golf championships to qualify individually for state who wasn’t part of the top 5 teams.

Isaac Buerger shot a three-under-par 69 in the May 7 final round to offset a 79 in the May 6 opening round at the Par-72 Eagle Crest Ridge Course — the Ravens’ home course. That was good enough to tie for fourth place individually and earn a spot in Monday and Tuesday’s Class 5A state championships at Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis.

“I really got into my routine and hit my shots the way I wanted to,” Buerger said.

Buerger’s combined score of 148 was six shots off the low score of 142 by Summit’s Jack Loberg.

The Ravens shot 668 as a team over two days, which placed them sixth out of 14 teams at the Special District 2 tournament. Redmond High shot 691 to finish seventh. The state team spots went to Summit (584), Bend (617), Pendleton (624), Marist (639) and The Dalles (656).

Buerger recovered from a double bogey on the third hole with back-to-back birdies on holes four and five in the final round. Players must finish in the top 10 to qualify if their team doesn’t make it.

“He hit his stride on Saturday,” said Ridgeview coach Ron Buerger, also Isaac’s father and the golf director at Eagle Crest Resort. “I started seeing from him the flashes of the player he was at the end of summer last year.”

Isaac Buerger started driving the ball very well and his putting got hot, the coach said.

“His long game can be overpowering, and if he continues to make the putts, that’s when he starts getting the low scores,” he said.

Isaac Buerger has played several times at Trysting Tree, including the recent state preview and the 2015 Oregon Golf Association Peter Jacobsen Junior Challenge.

“He’ll be ready to play over there,” Ron Buerger said.

Isaac Buerger hopes he can play in Corvallis like he did in the second round at district. He said the competition in Special District 2, where Summit and Bend are the last two state champions, is as strong as other parts of Oregon.

“I know if I can play well for two days, I have a chance to win,” he said. “I hope I can play solid and not make any mess-ups.”

Hunter Holmes, who shot 79-80—159, had the low score for Redmond, missing state by eight shots. Other Panthers competing were: Drew Davis, 85-79—164; Hayden Perry, 83-94—177; Jordan Christiansen, 102-93—195; and Sonny Smith, 98-99—197.

Johnny Spinelli had Ridgeview’s low score of the with a 75 May 6 before shooting 86 May 7 to finish at 161. Other Ravens were Isaac Buerger’s brother Luke Buerger, 91-80—171, Zach Nelson, 104-89—193 and Ryan Winslow, 99-110—209.