History Made: Axel Tornow Secures Historic Individual Win as Bulldogs Edge Grandview
SUNNYSIDE, WA — The Ellensburg Bulldogs boys’ golf team reached new heights on Monday, April 27, at Black Rock Creek Golf Club. In a performance defined by record-breaking individual play and high-stakes team drama, the Bulldogs fired a season-best 313 to secure their second league win of the season, edging out Grandview by a single stroke on the Greyhounds’ home turf.
A Milestone for the Program: Tornow Takes the Crown
Freshman Axel Tornow etched his name into the Ellensburg record books, finishing as the outright winner in a field of 53 CWAC golfers. Tornow carded a stellar 2-under-par 70, marking a historic achievement: he is the first EHS male golfer to win a CWAC League match since the conference transitioned to the POD format.
“It was a great day for our team. So much to be proud of,” Coach Harris remarked. “Can’t say enough great things about Axel. So happy for him to get his first win”.
Clutch Moments and Personal Bests
While Tornow led the charge, the team victory was a collective effort fueled by three personal records and a flair for the dramatic:
- Brody Kercher (76): Kercher found an incredible rhythm mid-round, playing even-par golf over his final 11 holesto secure a career-best score and a 9th-place finish.
- Mike Counce (79): Counce delivered the moment of the day. With the entire team watching on the final hole, he sank a 25-foot birdie putt to seal the 79—a personal record that officially secured the one-stroke victory for the Bulldogs.
- Jack Breinholt (91): Making his varsity debut, Breinholt’s 91 was enough to earn a district qualifying score, bringing the total number of Ellensburg district qualifiers to eight.
CWAC Boys POD #6: Team Standings
| Rank | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ellensburg | 313 |
| 2 | Grandview | 314 |
| 3 | Ephrata | 326 |
| 4 | East Valley | 333 |
| 5 | Prosser | 333 |
| 6 | Selah | 344 |
| 7 | Othello | 346 |
| 8 | Quincy | 389 |
| 9 | Toppenish | 424 |
CWAC Overall Standings Update
With only one POD match remaining, the Bulldogs have positioned themselves as one of the premier programs in the conference:
- Team Ranking: 2nd Place Overall
- Axel Tornow: 3rd Place Individual
- Brody Kercher: 10th Place Individual
- Mike Counce: 16th Place Individual
- Blake Stephenson: 19th Place Individual (88 at Black Rock Creek)
Up Next: The Grand Finale
The Bulldogs will look to carry this momentum into the final League POD next Tuesday in Selah at the Yakima Elks Golf Course. After bouncing back from a “down week” with a season-best performance, the squad is primed to finish the conference schedule on a high note.