Varelia
Goodwin
It is the second straight year that Goodwin, a junior from Mukilteo, has received the honor. He averaged 72.5 strokes per round for the Vikings this season, leading the team as he did in 2010-11 when he also earned third-team GCAA PING All-America, Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year and GNAC Newcomer of the Year accolades.
Varelia, a senior from Kent, had a stroke average just 0.4 higher than Goodwin's and was this year's GNAC Player of the Year. Not surprisingly, he and Goodwin were both named first-team GNAC all-stars, Varelia for the third time, Goodwin the second.
Varelia was the conference tournament medalist in 2011.
This season, WWU reached the NCAA II National Championships for the first time since 2008, placing ninth among 20 teams. The Vikings, who ranked No.8 in the final national poll, were second among 20 teams at the NCAA II Central/West Regional and won the GNAC tournament title for the fifth straight year.
The full list of GCAA NCAA II Ping West Region All-Stars is:
Trevor Blair, Cal State Stanislaus
Kyle Chappell, Dixie State
Rob Damschen, Cal State Stanislaus
Eric Frazzetta, Chico State
Dylan Goodwin, Western Washington
James Hall, Hawaii Hilo
Ryan Mahoney, Grand Canyon
Chris McCracken, Cal State Stanislaus
Travis Russell, Hawaii Hilo
Teddy Schrier, Cal State Stanislaus
Alex Sobstad, Cal State Monterey Bay
Kyle Souza, Chico State
Nick Varelia, Western Washington
Jeremy Wendelken, Sonoma State
And speaking of impressive seasons, the Bellingham High School Girls' team (left) won the 2A State Championship at Lake Spanaway in the third week of May, making it 10 titles in the last 11 seasons (they finished third in 2008) and capping another year of conference domination. Northwest Conference Varsity Girls Golf
Final Standings (Top 5)
| 1. Bellingham | 2,130pts |
| 2. Burlington-Edison | 1,376pts |
| 3. Mt. Baker | 1,145pts |
| 4. Squalicum | 1,105pts |
| 5. Sedro-Woolley | 927pts |
Q&A with coach Brad McKay
What were the highlights of the season for you?
Setting an all-time Conference best 304 scoring average; Getting six girls to make the second day cut at the state tournament (no other team had more than two); Conference, District, State Champions.
Where and when do you think the team played at its absolute best?
At our last match of the year at Avalon we scored a record 332 points. We also had a great District tournament taking 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th and 10th places.
Who were the outstanding players this year?
Brooke Branigan, a junior, was Conference MVP, District Champion, and placed fourth at State. We had two seniors, two juniors and two sophomores. The top four will be back next year.
Congratulations to Blair Walker who won the Club Championship qualifying tournament at Lake Padden last Saturday with a fine level-par 72. Shane Clark won the Net event with a 68. Results here.
Following the tournament, the Gross and Net ladders for the Club Championship were formed. The top 15 finishers and last year's defending champions comprise the 16-man ladders.
And here are the current money standings.
The next tournament is the June Open, a major and a Lake Padden Challenge event, on June 16th.
Here is the Championship bracket for the Sudden Valley Club Championship. The Sudden Valley Open is this Saturday (June 9th).
Shuksan is holding a Ping fitting/demo day tomorrow (Friday June 8) from 12pm to 4pm. Try the new i20 and G20 Series of drivers and irons.
