No one, except maybe one person -- and some would certainly say no persons -- were better than Todd Beamer golfer Thomas Jun at the biggest stage yet of the season for high school golf -- districts.

Jun took second place at the South Puget Sound League state qualifying district tournament after two days and 36 holes, actually a few more for Jun, at the Gold Mountain Golf Course in Bremerton.

Also making it on to state are Thomas Jefferson's Charles Lee and Quinn Hildebrandt. But certainly Jun, where he was, was in select company

It was the ninth hole that beat Jun...of sudden death, Jun ended tied with Kentridge's Chris Cho after 36 holes of golf, remarkable in itself. Perhaps most remarkable is that Jun could have, and, in a lot of eyes, should have, won it. Certainly, he could have been first. After having been eighth last year at districts, he should have been.

Jun and Cho played to a standstill through the played-out first, second, and eighth holes of a sudden death playoff. Both birdied the first, parred the second and eighth. But in the ninth, it all came down to Jun doing what? Putting for a birdie.

"I misread a birdie putt," he said. "I didn't really misread it, I was slightly in a hole because the greens are punched and sanded. When I hit it, the ball squeaked out to the right."

From how far away?

"Two feet," said Jun, sighing.

Two feet. He missed winning districts by that much some will say and some may still be wondering what coach or advice Jun has received in his golfing past growing up that's made him a star just about now in high school.

It was that kernel of 'do this' from a coach, one single phrase, that inspired his passions inside?

Seen the movie, "The Greatest Game Ever Played?" In it, young, six-year-old Frances volunteers when three-time British champion Harry Vardon invites a volunteer up to the stage for something. That something is swinging a golf club -- and driving. Vardon hands Frances the club and he swings and pooches the ball. Everyone laughs. Then comes the advice from Vardon before his next swing...

"Have you ever held a live bird in your hand before?" says Vardon, directing his hands at Frances' hands on the club. "Not too hard to hurt it (changing Frances hands positions slightly), but firm enough to not let it fly away."

Then Frances hits it and the white-dimpled sphere goes flying. Frances goes on to become a great golfer in that movie and Jun could become that, too.

That's Jun's hope anyway, and, by the way, here's what Jun says about who has given him some great kernel of advice so far in golfing life.

"No one," he said. "I could not see eye-to-eye with any coaches."

So he's been encouraged by his coaches, like his Titans one, Jim Nilsen, but not helped too much for improving his game.

"I give credit to my dad for helping my mental game," he did say.

Jun wants to be great at golf and state this coming May will be a good determinant of where he goes next.

"I want to go to Western Washington," said Jun. "I just need to keep working hard at my studies, I have a 3.3 or 3.4 g.p.a."

Jun, one can get the impression, just enjoys life and is well liked, like the course official that stopped by during this interview and said, "Can I say something?' He is just a really nice guy."

So that's Jun. This is too.

"I was medalist of five of seven of my dual meets," he said. There were actually times when teammates beat him, not that they were bad. But they could not be as good as Jun if he focused entirely every meet.

"I didn't win all of my matches. They would beat me when I was playing badly," said Jun. "But I am not trying to brag. Once in a while they (teammates like freshman Broc Johnson that made it to day two and missed the state cut) would step up their game and that helps me step up mine."

So Jun could win on any given day if he put his mind to it and certainly his playing inspired others in this game that a lot say is 90 percent, or more, mental.

Jenna Bishop, also a Titans golfer, made the state cut for the girls side of things.

Inspired by Jun?

"Yeah, he's never had a lesson in his life and he improves a lot," said Bishop. "It's fun playing with him as well."

Bishop shot a 167 for eighth place overall, only to be superseded by Decatur golfers Jenna Rochelle, sixth and Sidney Solomonson, fourth.

Solomonson and Rochelle took fourth and sixth, respectively, in the South Puget Sound League girls golf state qualifying tournament held Wednesday and Thursday at the Gold Mountain Golf Course in Bremerton.

It's the third year in a row now these two have made the state cut to get to play again against the top high school talent in May. That's got to command respect.

"The dynamic duo does it again," said Rochelle, laughing.

The reporter wasn't writing it down at first.

"You have to put that in there," said Rochelle, as the reporter began to write that out verbatim.

"That's key," added Solomonson, too, letting out a giggle or two.

Well, don't think these two were alone playing in this tournament from the well-coached team led by the winningest coach in the Gators' history of girls golf -- Rick Dennison.

It was a dynamic fivesome really. Five of Gators' six dual meet season golfers made it to the second day of districts. Well, four anyway, and the fifth should have made it.

"Jackie Collette didn't make it, but she just had her tonsils removed last week," said Rochelle. "She wasn't even supposed to play. She missed making it to the second day by six strokes."

So that leaves Caitlyn Egge, shooting a 95, making it, and Brynne Bettesworth, too, with a 95 first 18 hole total, and Kalyn Neils, 92.

"She missed state by two strokes," said Solomonson and Rochelle, sadly, together. They were happy, though, for their team. "We were happy that more made it."

And for those two it was business as usual, both getting to state and doing it like they have in the past. Rochelle won last year between the two, playing in the No. 1 group, and Solomonson was this year.

"We like flip flop every other year," Solomonson said.

Solomonson had the best final score, 162, and Rochelle was right behind at 164.

"I struggled a little in the beginning and pulled it all back together in the end," said Solomonson, who played in the highest group foursome. Rochelle was right behind in the second group, with only two strokes, 81 to 79 seperating the two after the first 18 holes.

"I bogeyed the first three holes," continued Solomonson. "I was able to bounce back . But they did place the tees back (to the men's distance for driving) and I was a little shocked."

Plus Solomonson's game is not driving.

"I rely on my short game," she said. "That is what gets me up and down the course."

Rochelle is more of a driver. She had some big drives to be good enough to be in the first group last year.

Jayme Carbon and Courtney Tappon, both of Thomas Jefferson, made it to the second day but missed the state cut.

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