It was a tale of two seasons for the Redmond High School boys’ golf team at the two-day 4A Kingco District Tournament this week.

Last year, the Mustangs struggled mightily at the event, pushing just one player — team captain Charlie Mroz — through to the state tournament.

This year was a different story, as Redmond tore up a sun-drenched Snohomish Golf Course on Tuesday, running away with the Kingco title by 13 shots over Eastlake, 366-379.

During Wednesday’s final round of play, five Redmond players were able to keep it together and make the top-12 cut to state, including Mroz, who won the tournament with a 2-under-par 69-73-142 total.

Redmond teammates Lyle Rudnicki, Henrique Pombo, Cole Helgeson and Jimbo Curtin also punched tickets to the state tournament held in May. Oliver Rudnicki won a 3-way playoff with a birdie to secure the first alternate spot. According to Zimmerman, Oliver may be in for sure as Kingco’s allocation may get expanded to 13 spots.

“This year we were more prepared emotionally and physically,” said Mroz on the Mustangs’ 2010 success. “We were young last year and no one had played that high ranking of a tournament before. It was a ‘deer in the headlights’ sort of thing.”

BIRDIE BINGE

The 4A Kingco competition was as tough as ever this year with the addition of young, talented players like sophomore Li Wang of Eastlake, who shot a 73-71-144, to earn second place and freshman Brian Moog of Skyline, who fired a 71-74-145 for third place, but the Mustangs, led by Mroz, came out firing themselves.

“He was pretty good all year, and he showed it (at Districts),” said head coach Chris Zimmerman of Mroz. “(Tuesday) he hits a beautiful 3-wood on the green to 18 and makes eagle, and (Wednesday) he kept it around par.”

That clutch eagle came after bogeys at 16 and 17 threatened to derail Mroz’s solid opening round.

“I was fired up after those two bogeys and ripped a 3-wood that trickled up onto the green,” recalled Mroz on his approach to the par-5 finishing hole. “I had to hit a draw… and it ended up perfect.”

Zimmerman also praised the play of all of his players, including exchange student Pombo, who shot two rounds of 75 to finish in a tie for fifth with fellow Mustangs Helgeson (71-79-150) and Lyle Rudnicki, who battled back from an opening round of 6-over 78 to shoot even par on Wednesday.

“Henrique had never played Snohomish before, he went out there cold, not even a practice round, and shot two great scores,” Zimmerman said, adding that Pombo will be back home in his native Brazil when the state tournament rolls around and will return if he is eligible. “And Lyle had a great day today. I’m proud of him, he really wanted it this year – all the guys did.”

Curtin, a sophomore, also punched his first ticket to state with a 74-78-152 total.

“Today he was scrambling and getting up and down from everywhere, making putts all over the place,” Zimmerman said of Curtin.

Curtin got up and down one final time on 18 for par, and made the cut by two strokes.

“They exceeded every expectation we could have had for them,” lauded Zimmerman on his team’s efforts. “What a great group of guys, the best team I’ve had here. They’re all buddies, they all hang out, and it’s been fun to watch them.”

SIGHTS SET TO STATE

With at least five eligible players guaranteed for state, the Mustangs will finally be able to threaten schools like Bellarmine Prep, which always seem to field a full team in May.

“It makes it a lot easier to win,” Zimmerman noted. “I think we’ll be giving them a run for their money this year.”

The long layoff from district to state — approximately seven months — can make some players complacent about their games, especially during the frigid winter months. Zimmerman said he’s not worried.

“I really think all those guys that made it are going to work all winter, because their talk went immediately to us having a chance to go over to the state tournament and win it,” he explained. “They’re really focused, they’re going to practice a ton, and hopefully we can do some damage against those powerhouse schools.”

REDMOND RESULTS – 4A Kingco District Tournament

Top 12 advance to state tournament

1: Charlie Mroz 69-73-142

T-5: Lyle Rudnicki 78-72-150

T-5: Henrique Pombo 75-75-150

T-5: Cole Helgeson 71-79-150

10: Jimbo Curtin 74-78-152

13: Oliver Rudnicki 77-77-154*

*Won 3-way playoff with birdie on first hole to earn the first alternate spot to state