Bainbridge ties with Mercer Island at 54 points each.

Whatever questions the Bainbridge boys golf team had about them, they were answered with their exhibition match against Mercer Island Tuesday at Wing Point.

Using match play scoring, where players are awarded one point for winning the hole and a 1/2 point for the split, the Spartans tied with the Islanders with 54 points apiece.

It was a meeting of current and former state champions, as Mercer Island won the title in May, while Bainbridge won in 2005 and placed second in 2004.

Head coach Bob Dwyer was happy with how the entire team played.

“It was good with the variety of (kids that scored),” he said. “The unknowns come in and got their putts to work.”

He also was pleased that the team got in 18 holes of work.

“We never do that until districts,” Dwyer said.

After the first two matches, Bainbridge was down 11 points, as Mercer Island’s Paul Mitzel and Dan Kern shot a two over 73 and one over 72 on the par-71 course to beat Jamie Neill and Kyle Hurt.

Neill shot a 78.

“I didn’t play that well,” he said. “I was a little rusty. I haven’t played tournament golf in about a month.”

Neill’s last tournament was his win at the Frank Rodia Pacific Northwest Junior Championship at Alderbrook Golf and Yacht Club in Union in August.

Jack Seidl and Sean Leonard closed the gap to four with their scores of 77 and 74, respectively.

The duo of Peter Leslie and Kyle Schnieder shot a 76 and 81 to even everything at 54 points.

Counting the total number of strokes had the Islanders ahead by eight.

Neill liked how the younger players raised their game against the Islanders.

“It was good to see some of the younger guys play well,” Neill said. “There’s not a lot of experience but a lot of talent.

“They played to my level or better today. That was really promising to see.”

Neill thinks the younger players can help make up for the loss of Austin Hurt, Ricky Ulloa and Paul DeBarros.

All three are now playing college golf.

“Anytime you lose that much talent, it’s going to be tough to replace,” Neill said. “There’s a lot of young guys that have that same talent, but not that experience.”

Neill hopes he can be the one to guide them to success, much like former Bainbridge golfer and team captain Hans Olsen was a guide to him when he was on the team.

“He (Olsen) came back during this summer and I got to play with him during the entire summer,” he said. “Now I gotta step up and take that role (over).”

The boys played another exhibition match against Skyline on Wednesday.

They start Metro League play against Seattle Prep, Eastside Catholic and West Seattle Monday at Wing Point.

The girls open against those same teams on Tuesday.

Match times are at 3 p.m.

Harriers strong in first meet

The Bainbridge boys and girls cross country teams had sound performances in their first league meet Wednesday at Lower Woodland Park against Nathan Hale, O’Dea and Holy Names.

Bevan Taylor placed first with his time of 16:57, while Taylor Lea was fourth with a time of 17:49.

Matt Tetlow finished with a time of 18:05 in ninth place while Ian Shiach placed tenth with a time of 18:09.

Greg Nance was 18th with a time of 19:13, while Willie Wenzlau was 21st with a time of 19:32.

Ian Layton finished in 23rd with a time of 19:34.

The finishes were good enough to put the boys in second with 40 points.

Nathan Hale was first with 23 points, while O’Dea was third with 62 points.

For the girls, Emily Farrar was second with a time of 20:49.

Callie McKenzie was third with a time of 21:15.

Annie Taylor finished in 11th place with a time of 22:26.

The finishes put the girls in second place with 48 points.

Holy Names was first with 23 points, while Nathan Hale took third with 63 points.

Both teams get some good news as the boys add nine new runners while the girls add seven.

Max Welch, Win McCurdy and Jake Saxe will also be added to next week’s meet now that they have the requisite 10 practices.

Bainbridge takes part in the 29th annual Salt Creek Classic today at the Salt Creek Recreation Area County Park in Port Angeles.

Their next meet is against Nathan Hale and Seattle Prep Wednesday at Lincoln Park in Seattle.

Swimmers excel in relays

It didn’t take long for the Bainbridge girls swim team to post stellar times.

In their meet against Kamiak, the 200 medley relay team of Isabel Williams, Julie Pendleton, Tessa Griffin and April Isa finished first with a state qualifying time of 1:58.82.

Pendleton also had a state qualifying time of 2:17.44 in the 200 individual medley.

Keziah Beall posted a state-qualifying time of 2:02.79 in the 200 freestyle and a state-qualifying time of 56.42 in the 100 freestyle.

Bainbridge defeated Kamiak 102-81.

Against Newport, the team of Griffin, Wade, Isabel Williams and Beall scored a state time of 3:50.75 in the 400 freestyle relay.

Bainbridge lost to Newport 98-88.

The team hosts the 21st annual Spartan relays today at noon at the Bainbridge Aquatic Center.

The participating teams in this year’s event are Sehome, Marysville/Pilchuck, Mount Rainier, Camas and Bellevue.

Bainbridge’s next home meet is Sept. 26 against Port Angeles.

Fundraiser for the ‘Big Fix’

Kevin Lynch is ready to show his documentary of the Big Fix 2006 cross-country bike ride for histiocytosis.

The 70-minute piece will be shown Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. at the Bainbridge Cinemas.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for kids and are avilable at the door.

Call 842-1099 for more info.