Summit boys golf dominates Intermountain Conference championships

Published 8:15 am Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Summit’s Bryden Ditty tees off on the fourth hole during the Intermountain Conference boys golf championships at Eagle Crest Resort Course Tuesday afternoon.

Brutal wind and cold could not stop the deep and talented Summit boys golf team from winning another Intermountain Conference championship Tuesday at the Eagle Crest Resort Course in Redmond.

The Storm boasted the top two individuals in sophomore Bryce Grieb and freshman Bryden Ditty, and had five golfers finish in the top 10 to finish with a two-day, 36-hole total of 647.

Mountain View was second (681), Ridgeview finished third (720) and Bend High took fourth (732).

“It doesn’t surprise me,” said Summit coach Andy Heinly.

“These guys are solid. I knew they would just have to beat themselves, just because of the depth that we have. They did what they needed to do. It was brutal conditions. Everybody kind of held it together pretty well. This group is deep. I never worried about this group. They did really well.”

Summit advances straight to the Class 5A state championship, set for May 13-14 at Quail Valley Golf Club in Banks, northwest of Portland. The Storm will be going for their third consecutive state title and their sixth in the last 10 years.

Mountain View, Ridgeview and Bend will play in a regional tournament next Tuesday at Aspen Lakes Golf Course in Sisters. Those teams will face the second- through fourth-place teams from another conference, with the top two teams out of those six advancing to the state championships.

Heinly said winning a state title is the goal every season for Summit, adding that La Salle and Wilsonville should provide the stiffest competition this year.

“We have the horses to do it,” Heinly said. “We won the state preview, so I know we have the ability to do it, it’s just a matter of going and taking care of business, doing what I know these guys can do.”

Grieb shot a 3-over-par 75 on Tuesday after an 8-over 80 on Monday to beat his teammate Ditty by two strokes, 155 to 157. Ditty carded a 9-over 81 on Tuesday and a 4-over 76 on Monday.

He had the lead and was under par on the back nine on Tuesday, but took a 13 on the 529-yard par-5 11th hole.

“Bryden is going to be really, really good,” Heinly said. “He had one really bad hole that just kind of threw him. He’s disappointed, obviously. He’s a competitor. It was hard for him. But I told him we learn from it.”

Mountain View’s Brayden Kussman went 85-81—164 to finish third and Summit’s Paolo Delia (85-81-166) and Ridgeview’s Stephen Chapman (83-83-166) finished tied for fourth. Kussman and Chapman each qualified as individuals for the 5A state championship.

Summit had a huge team lead going into the final day of the IMC championships on Tuesday, and Heinly told his golfers to “just go play.”

“They all play good golf and they are all capable,” Heinly said.

“My goal for these guys is to just get the best out of what they can do and compete against themselves. Our JVs a couple times were second in varsity tournaments. We’re pretty deep and we always have guys pushing each other. It’s really fun for me to see.”

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