Kyler Hemelstrand captures district golf title, helps Cascade to second-place finish

CRESWELL — Kyler Hemelstrand admits there were plenty of nerves on Tuesday.

Cascade’s standout senior entered the afternoon knowing that the first district title of his career was well within reach. Typically an up-tempo golfer who prefers to operate at a rapid pace, Hemelstrand adopted a more methodical approach this week in order to navigate his way through some pivotal moments.

The strategy worked to perfection as he produced one of the best tournament performances of his life.

Hemelstrand shot a 74 on Tuesday and shot 151 over the course of two days to capture the OSAA 4A Special District 2 Boys Tournament title at Emerald Valley Golf Club. He finished the tournament four strokes ahead of North Bend junior Owen Bascom, who shot a 79 on Tuesday.

“It’s a lot of anxiety off every tee, every shot — you feel the pressure, especially when the guy you’re trying to beat is playing right next to you,” Hemelstrand said. “So, I just took everything a little slower today.”

Hemelstrand was one stroke back of Bascom when their group teed off on Tuesday. But he took control of the tournament with a strong two-under-par showing on the front nine. After back-to-back birdies on holes seven and eight, Hemelstrand hit a stellar 40-foot lag putt on a steep downhill, and then followed with a tap-in to save par on hole nine.

“I felt more confident on the back nine, for sure,” Hemelstrand said. “After a really good front nine, I was up three or four strokes on Owen and just felt really good after that.”

Hemelstrand, who attends Crosshill Christian but has golfed for Cascade throughout his high school career, recently committed to compete collegiately at Oklahoma Christian University next season. He finished seventh at the state tournament as a junior last season, and ninth as a sophomore in 2022.

While his driver was a big reason for his success this week, Hemelstrand's previous experience at big tournaments — and ability to stay calm during crucial sequences — also paid dividends.

“In those big pressure moments, where maybe somebody else will hit an errant shot, it’s amazing how consistent he is,” Cascade coach Jason Haskell said. “He just continues to hit that same solid, consistent shot over and over and over again. That’s a testament to the work ethic and the practice that he puts in. He’s just so consistent.”

Hemelstrand led Cascade, which shot 681, to a second-place team finish. Cougars’ junior Cruz Shank finished in a tie for third with an overall score of 163, and senior Zach Wilson took eighth at 169.

Marist won the team title with a score of 661. Christian Guerrero (tied for third, 163), Anthony Angelastro (tied for fifth, 166), Nick Hudson (tied for fifth, 166), and Jaxen Mazur (168) all cracked the top 10.

Stayton junior Isaac Laro shot 170 to finish ninth to help the Eagles to a fifth-place team finish.

Cascade will be back at Emerald Valley for the OSAA state championships on May 13-14 and will look to top last year’s fifth-place finish.

“We were only one stroke out of fourth-place, which is a trophy place,” Haskell said of last year’s Cougars’ squad. “When you’re talking about 500, 600 strokes over two days, to miss a trophy by one stroke, that taught us that every stroke matters. Every putt, all the way through those two days, you have to really key in on everything you’re doing at all moments. It taught us to really pay attention to all the little things.”

Salem Academy girls golf captures district title

Salem Academy captured a district title in dominant fashion this week at Salishan Golf Links in Gleneden Beach.

The Crusaders tallied a team score of 699 over the course of two rounds to finish 60 over par. They finished 147 strokes ahead of runner-up Blanchet Catholic.

Ellie Gladow won the individual title with a total score of 158 to finish five over par. That included a 76 during Tuesday’s second round. Chloe Johnston finished close behind at 160, and Alexandrea Willcoxen finished fifth at 176.

Hallie Beyer led Blanchet Catholic with an eighth-place finish at 195.

Jarrid Denney covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@salem.gannett.com or on X @jarrid_denney

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Cascade's Kyler Hemelstrand captures OSAA 4A district golf title