The last time Lake Oswego’s Adam Ruben stood out on the green warmup area at the Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell, he did it as a state champion. A senior on the 2012 Lakers that won the title, Ruben finished tied for 14th in the individual race.
Fast forward nine years, Ruben was back on the green on Tuesday at the OSAA Class 6A boys golf state championship at Emerald Valley Golf Club. Again the Lakers hoisted the state championship.
But this time Ruben was in a new role: head coach.
“It’s fun to bring it back,” he said. “These guys, they fought all week, all year. They worked super hard. A couple tears were shed. I’m just super proud of the these guys.”
With a state championship as both a player and a coach, Ruben said getting to coach the Lakers to a state championship was an extra special moment — and may have felt sweeter than winning the title in 2012.
“Just seeing them all work all year and just really grind and fight for it. It’s so fulfilling.”
Lake Oswego finished the state championships with 610 strokes (304 on the first day and 306 on the second). In second place was Tigard with 617 (304, 313) and third was a three-way tie of 630 between Grants Pass (322, 308), Westview (317, 313) and Sunset (315, 315).
The title is the 10th state championship for Lake Oswego, putting the Lakers tied for firth in state history with North Medford (who won all of its titles as Medford High).
The Lakers were led by Tanner Frinell on Monday and Tuesday. The team’s lone senior finished tied for eighth place with 4-over 148, hitting 76 on the first day and 72 on the second.
“Our only senior, he put the team on his back,” Ruben said. “He really came through and that was one of the most impressive rounds I’ve ever seen from him.”
In 11th place was Lake Oswego junior Drew Woolworth with 5-over 149 (74, 75). Junior Adam Blackmore tied for 20th place with 12-over 156 (77, 79) and tied for 22nd was junior Adam Wrenn with 13-over 157 (77, 80). Junior Braden Larsen was tied for 36th with 17-over 161 (78, 83).
Lake Oswego needed to overcome a day one tie with Tigard. The Tigers were led by Jenning Oelke, who tied for third with 3-over 147, and Douglas Bailey, who tied for eighth with 4-over 148.
But where Lake Oswego lacked a golfer in the top five, the Lakers had an advantage in overall team placement. Tigard’s later scoring entrants finished tied for 28th and 48th. Lake Oswego didn’t have any scorers below 22nd.
“Everyone just really came together. Everyone was there for each other and just supporting each other,” Ruben said. “They knew that if they had a bad hole there was another guy to fight for them. So they never gave up.”
Up against Tigard in the team standings, Ruben said he knew Lake Oswego was at a disadvantage as the Tigers were the state runner-up last spring. Ruben said he was only focused on having the Lakers enjoy their time on the course.
“Let’s just go free flowing,” Ruben said he told the team before they headed out on Tuesday morning. “Go play the golf you guys can play. These are some of the best golfers in the state. If you guys do what you do best, you’re going to have an opportunity.”
— Nik Streng, [email protected], @NikStreng
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McNary’s Colby Sullivan avoids repeat of second-day struggles, wins Oregon Class 6A state title