Clipper Golf Coach Russ Olsen had a vision when he helped create the golf program at SPSCC in 2023. The first year was an experimental year to see what could be achieved, and it yielded two Clipper student-athletes that made the NWAC Championships in Luke Fenner and Grace Hurley. The second year brought about first true recruiting class that Coach Olsen brought into SPSCC and, although he was hopeful for the first-ever team berth into the Championships, he feels that the first batch of Clipper golfers has laid the framework for what's to come.
"Overall, Luke [Fenner] getting Second Team All-League and winning a tournament this year were all firsts for the team, and having a team that was competitive until the last league match, I feel like now they understand what it is to be competitive as a team and how their individual goals need to meet with the team goal," said Olsen. "That momentum will take us into next year with a strong recruiting class coming in and I expect a very strong performance from both the men's and women's teams next year."
It was a season of firsts for both of the golf squads. For the men's squad, Fenner becoming the first-ever Clipper golfer to win a tournament when he shot 72 on both days to finish with an even par during the Columbia Basin College (CBC) League Match tournament, edging out Bellevue's Milo Stover and CBC's Jesus Castaneda by one stroke. Fenner also became the first Clipper golfer to be named to the NWAC's All-League team with his selection to the Second Team.
But, it wasn't all Luke Fenner this season. The freshmen class of 2024 really solidified Coach Olsen's belief that his athletes can continue building themselves as golfers and thereby building a team in the process. Braden Salme, Charlie Ancich, Cooper Hahn, and Evan Ashcraft all have what it takes to carry the torch and help lead SPSCC Golf into the next level. Coach Olsen really stressed the fact that any of these gentlemen have the capacity and talent to make a breakthrough next season.
On the ladies' side of things, Emilee Anderson solidified herself as the women's golfer at SPSCC, a role that her predecessor, teammate, and — eventually — coach, Grace Hurley had to undertake the second half of her freshman year as well. Anderson also etched her name into the record books as she finished the season with the best-ever finish in Clipper Women's Golf history. She shot a 98 on the first day of the Spokane League Match and then followed that up with an 88 (the first-ever under-90 score in Clipper Women's Golf) the next day for a 186 gross score.
The season of firsts also included SPSCC hosting their first tournament at Tumwater Valley Golf Course against NWAC opposition. In October, Clipper Golf welcomed five NWAC squads to the South Puget Sound region and established a potential league match tournament possibility at The Valley in the near future.
Needless to say, Clipper Golf is on the rise. With the departure of strong golfers like Fenner and Hurley, one would think that the Clipper golf program would be weaker without its two standout athletes. However, Coach Olsen feels that the experience gained by the now-sophomore golfers and the strength of the incoming freshmen, SPSCC Golf is in a spot to make some noise in the NWAC Golf scene.
"The energy that was shown throughout the year from both teams, mixed with the excitement and desire to win from the recruiting class, I see them still practicing after their high school seasons, makes me excited for next season," said Olsen. "Also, seeing our current players out here for the championships, supporting their teammates, it shows the enthusiasm about Clipper Golf and it leads to great things next year with a great team concept."