MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Mavericks boys golf team secured first place in the Big 9 following their second-place finish at Highlander Golf Course on Tuesday, putting the team at four first-place and three second-place finishes for the season. 

“I think we played pretty good as a team, we all shot in the 70’s we just missed a couple greens and a couple tee boxes,” said Mavs golfer Quintin Whittall. “Overall, I think we’re pretty sharp and ready for districts.” 

The team only came up eight short at the Highlander meet scoring 298 to Eastmont’s 290. The team still scored well with Mason Bradford going par for the course with 72, Drayson Nighswonger hitting 74, Grady Walker and Whittall both hit 76, Christian Mathis hit 77 and Jonah Heaps hit 78.  

“Eastmont came on strong, that’s their home course and they had some players that played well,” said Mavs head coach Terrance Melbye. “They had a couple players that shot even under par.” 

League standings already had Moses Lake in first prior to this meet, but Melbye said he was still hoping that they would take first in this tournament before heading into districts. The Mavs have beaten Eastmont three times so far this season and Eastmont now has two wins over the Mavs, with one of the wins occurring at Moses Lake Golf and Country Club. 

The coach said each golfer has proven their abilities throughout the season with all six making it to MVP, first team, second team or third team in the league. The team has been playing well all year and is ready for the coming district tournament that will be held at Moses Lake Golf and Country Club.  

“We’re really looking forward to that, we are practicing really hard and getting ready,” said Bradford. “We didn’t win here earlier in the year, but I think we’re really confident we’re going to get it done this time.” 

Whittall, being one of the seniors on the team, said he is excited for the team’s push into districts and hopes the team can stay in the green and keep up some clean rounds of golf going forward. 

“I think I’ve accomplished quite a bit in my high school career, but I feel like this one’s going to be a good one to really prove something and prove that I'm (competing) and I can still make a run for it,” said Whittall. 

The Mavs have been hitting the golf course to prepare themselves for the coming tournament, said the coach. He wants the team to be ready for any situation that might come up during the tournament. 

“I’ll send them out there and they’ll hit one drive and then drop a ball next to it so they’re playing two balls into the green so they have double the practice in half the time,” said Melbye. 

He said the team is trying to work on everything from their short game to their chipping and putting, and are just putting in the practice that has gotten them to where they are this season. 

“Just getting comfortable, hitting shots that we need to execute and just being sharp,” said Bradford. 

The Mavs prepare for their District tournament at Moses Lake Golf and Country Club on Monday and Tuesday, starting at 10 a.m. each day. 

    Mason Bradford, seen at a previous meet at Moses Lake Golf and Country club plans to continue playing for the team as a senior next year.