Lakeside School's Jack Pucci Dominates at Trophy Lake, Punches 3A State Ticket!

The greens at Trophy Lake Golf & Casting Club in Port Orchard were buzzing with high stakes this past Tuesday at the WIAA 3A Boys Golf Sectional, but it was Lakeside School sophomore Jack Pucci who stole the show. Firing an impressive 4-over 76, Pucci secured his individual qualification for the upcoming WIAA 3A State Boys Golf Tournament. Competing against a robust field of 72 talented golfers, Pucci's steady play earned him fourth place individually, making him one of the coveted three individual state qualifiers. Pucci's journey through the challenging course was a testament to his resilience and burgeoning talent. His round was a dramatic display of golf, showcasing both grit and brilliance. He started strong, playing even par through his first six holes, highlighted by a fantastic birdie three on the par-4 fifth hole. Then came a slight hiccup, a triple bogey eight on the challenging par-5 seventh, but Pucci quickly recalibrated, bouncing back with consecutive pars to make the turn at a respectable 3-over 39. The back nine proved his mental fortitude, as he quickly atoned for a double bogey on the par-4 twelfth with a crucial birdie four on the thirteenth. In fact, Pucci played his final six holes in an incredible 1-under par, finishing his inward nine in 1-over 37. This stellar finish put him two strokes clear of a tense 2-for-1 playoff for the final individual spot, a true clutch performance.

Coach Sonntag Praises Pucci's Mental Toughness

Lakeside School boys golf coach Craig Sonntag couldn't be prouder of his young star. "Although we are disappointed our whole team fell just short of a state tournament appearance, we are all incredibly excited for Jack," Coach Sonntag remarked. "Jack played a really solid round all day. Besides a triple bogey hiccup on a tough par 5 on the front nine, he played exceptionally well. After that triple on seven, he settled back in and played the last eleven holes in 1 over to finish with a 76." Sonntag lauded Pucci's confident and positive approach, even after a difficult hole. "Jack often says to me, 'No problem coach, I got this. I will make it up over the next few holes.' I think the ability to compartmentalize a tough hole and keep it from ruining a whole round truly separates the good golfers from the best golfers."

A Strong Team Showing, Narrowly Missing Out

While Pucci will represent Lakeside School at the state level, the team itself put up a valiant effort, finishing fifth overall with a team score of 330. The competition for the final team berth was fierce, with teams neck-and-neck throughout the day. Central Kitsap High School shot 309 to claim the team championship, with Seattle Prep securing the second team spot at 326. Other strong showings included Bellevue High School (328) and Mercer Island High School (329). Lakeside's senior Jackson Moore contributed an impressive 80, tying for 11th, while senior Henry Moore carded an 86 and junior Will Hirschfeld added an 88. Junior Johnny Davids led Bainbridge High School with an 85. Jack Pucci now sets his sights on the biggest stage in Washington high school golf. The WIAA 3A State Tournament is slated for May 28-29 at the prestigious MeadowWood Golf Course in Spokane. We are all rooting for Jack as he prepares to compete with the very best at the 2026 WIAA State Tournament, carrying the pride of Lakeside School and Seattle high school golf with him.

This article was created with AI assistance. Stats and results sourced from public records.