Greg Gildea, 14, placed ninth in the state in his age division in the Washington Junior Golf Association (WJGA) annual state tournament. This year’s tournament was hosted by the Everett Golf & Country Club.

Each year six WGJA districts around the state hold four sub-district tournaments and a district final. Top finishers in the district finals are sent to the state tournament. Gildea competed in two sub-division tournaments and won both.

More than 100 players began in Gildea’s age division, with 76 qualifying for the district finals. Gildea placed third in his district.

In his first appearance at the state tournament, Gildea qualified to play on the last day. It was a rough start, with Gildea shooting eight over par on the front nine but rallying to shoot even par on the back nine. He finished ninth, missing a tie for seventh by one stroke.