Quang wins 4A state title, becomes Seaside’s first individual champion since 1982
CRESWELL, Ore. - Seaside senior Xanh Quang captured the OSAA 4A boys state championship Tuesday at Emerald Valley Golf Club, shooting consecutive rounds of 75 to finish at 6-over 150 and win by three strokes. The title made Quang the Seagulls’ first individual state champion since Matt Elms in 1982.
Quang carried a one-stroke lead into the final round and had to weather the tournament’s biggest turning point before closing it out. After an early birdie on the par-5 third hole in Round 2 helped him stay steady, he triple-bogeyed the par-4 15th and briefly fell out of the lead. He recovered by playing 1-under the rest of the way and birdied the par-5 18th to finish the day at 75, matching his opening-round score and holding off Baker/Powder Valley senior Elias Long, who finished at 153.
The final-round response defined the victory. Quang was even through nine Tuesday with the lone early birdie at No. 3, then absorbed the damage at No. 15 before settling himself over the closing stretch. Seaside coach Jim Poetsch said Quang’s poise never wavered.
“He’s got a good head on his shoulders,” Poetsch said. “That might have affected some other players, but not Xanh.”
Quang’s opening round Monday established the position he needed. He birdied Nos. 1 and 3, then added another birdie at the par-4 eighth to get back to even through the front nine. A double-bogey on the par-4 sixth and three back-nine bogeys, including holes 15, 16 and 18, left him with a 39 on the inward nine and a 3-over 75. Even so, that round was enough to send him into Tuesday with the tournament lead.
Across the two-day event, Quang totaled 58 putts, 31 in the first round and 27 in the second. He hit 56 percent of greens in regulation in Round 1 and 50 percent in Round 2, while improving his fairways-hit rate from 43 percent Monday to 64 percent Tuesday. Quang, who has committed to Lewis & Clark College, added his name to Seaside golf history with a composed finish on the final hole and the program’s long-awaited individual crown.
