With five of Mercer Island’s six state-qualifiers advancing to the final round of the 3A state girls golf tournament, Mercer Island took home the 3A state championship Thursday, May 28 at Horn Rapids Golf Course in Richland.

The Islanders registered a team score of 100, 25 points ahead of second-place Kamiakin.

“All the girls, they held up under pressure,” said girls golf coach Tim Okamura. “We had two freshmen come through like champs and two sophomores do well, too. They kept their calm.”

Rachel Fujitani led the Islanders with a two-day score of 146, good for a second-place finish. Ingraham’s Sarah Rhee won the 3A individual state title, shooting a combined score of 140.

Kate Peterson tied for 18th, shooting 174 through the tournament’s two rounds. Ella Warburg placed 22nd, shooting 176. Estey Chen tied for 28th with Enumclaw’s Faith Hardersen, shooting 183, and Abby Zhong placed 39th, shooting 193.

Also competing at the state tournament for Mercer Island was sophomore Madelyn Quickstad.

Okamura made sure to credit Don Papasedero, the longtime Islander coach currently coaching football overseas, for the Islanders’ strong showing at the state tournament.

“I’m just an interim coach,” Okamura said. “He did all the organization and groundwork.”

Islander boys place third

Mercer Island had two representatives from the boys golf team make the state cut May 27-28 at Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick.

Zach Evens placed ninth overall, shooting a two-day score of 151. Will Mansfield, working double-time from the baseball diamond, tied for 14th with Bonney Lake’s Curtis Koltermann, shooting 155 in the two-day tournament. Together, the two helped Mercer Island finish third overall as a team, with a team score of 58.5 points.

Bainbridge boasted top honors as a team, scoring 70 points, and also had the individual state champion in Sam Warkentin, who shot 139 through two days.