Wells’ Helen Brodahl wins Class 6A state individual title as Jesuit wins fourth consecutive team championship

Wells senior Helen Brodahl won the individual championship of the OSAA Class 6A girls golf state championship tournament on Tuesday, ending the two-day tournament at Banks’ Quail Valley Golf Course 1-over par 145 (71, 74) to clinch the individual crown.

• PHOTOS: Wells’ Helen Brodahl wins Class 6A girls golf individual title while Jesuit wins its fourth team title in a row

“I am so thrilled,” Brodahl said. “This was kind of the big goal for this year, and I’m so excited about it. I’m really happy.”

Brodahl was the runner-up in last year’s state tournament.

“I felt like I put a lot of work in over this past year,” she said. “I don’t know. I suppose it was just kind of the big goal, and I succeeded. I don’t know. My first day, setting myself apart was great. So, really happy with myself for that.”

In addition to playing through sweltering heat on the par 72 course, Brodahl played on after suffering from a bee sting.

“I did get stung. I did, on the eighth hole. Oh, yeah. That was fun,” she said. “But, I mean, the course conditions were great, and the weather. So, especially playing in rain and everything this past season, it was great.”

Jesuit claimed its fourth consecutive girls golf state championship Tuesday.

The streak goes back to 2018. The tournaments in 2020 and 2021 were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think this year especially, a lot of teams were in it. I think it was a toss up for who was going to win,” said Jesuit senior Anna Poulin. “We just focused. Every stroke mattered, and at the end, it came down to two (strokes). So, we were very excited about that, and I’m very proud of everyone for staying in it.”

Jesuit finished with a combined 663 strokes, just edging Lake Oswego by two strokes. Sunset placed third with a combined 677.

“I think it’s a lot of fun just to have a team every year where everyone’s super dedicated and focused, and to know that the goal at the end is to win,” Poulin said about being a part of the state championship-winning streak. “It is, sometimes, a lot of pressure. A lot of eyes tend to be on us, especially as Jesuit. I think we just try to focus on ourselves, and we really tried to outwork other teams this year. That was a big theme. So, focusing in practice and getting out on the course as much as we could.”

Poulin, a senior, finished tied for second on the individual leaderboard at 3-over par 147 (75, 72).

“I played good. I think yesterday, I struggled a little with putting,” Poulin said. “And then today on the front nine, I figured it out. And then the back nine, I made a few mistakes, which cost me a little. But in the end, this still all turned out right.”

Cleveland freshman Kate Ly also tied for second on the individual leaderboard at 3-over 147 (77, 70).

“So, over the past few weeks, the course has changed a lot,” Ly said. “The first day, I was just trying to get used to the new change. And then on the second day, I got used to it, so I just played a little better.”

After ending round one five-over par on Monday, Ly started Tuesday by ending the front nine at 5-under par en route to jumping four places on the leaderboard.

“My approaches to the green, they were all like five feet from the hole,” Ly said of her play on the front nine Tuesday. “Then, I was able to make the putts.”

Ly’s sister, Kyra, won last year’s Class 6A individual championship, finishing the state tournament with a record-setting 14-under-par at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell.

At the Quail Valley course, Ly aimed to top her older sister’s score from last year.

“I feel like I have to beat her score. That’s what was really going through my mind today. I’ve got to beat her,” Ly said about following up after her sister’s performance. “Last year, she played the same course as the freshmen (at Quail Valley). She shot, like, 77-79. Yeah.”