When the Sea-King District boys golf tournament began, Radleigh Ang was just hoping to gain some postseason experience and possibly qualify for one of the state playoff berths for the 3A tournament.

He ended up doing so much more.

After ending the round tied with Seattle Prep’s Ryan Books at 72, Ang captured the district championship on the second playoff hole with a 50-foot chip for birdie.

“I didn’t know I was tied for the lead until [Bellevue golf coach] Mr. Mead told me on the 15th hole,” Ang said. “I birdied the next hole and from then on I just wanted to par out.”

After playing clean through the final three holes of regulation play, Ang actually believed he had a one stroke lead before realizing Books had birdied the 18th hole to force a playoff.

“At first, I was a little nervous,” Ang said. “But I became excited and just wanted to keep the routine going.”

Faced with a six-foot putt to force a second playoff hole and with his hands admittedly shaking as he drew back his putter, Ang delivered again before the coup de grace.

After watching his five-iron tee shot flare off to the right into the rough, things looked murky for the Bellevue sophomore.

“He was in far better position,” Ang said of Books. “I just wanted to get into a par situation and make sure I stayed in the playoff.”

Ang hit his chip with those intentions and came away with the district title when his ball landed on the green and continued breaking left, right into the cup.

“I just started screaming,” he said. “I had a headache from all the screaming.”

Books had one final chance to match Ang’s miracle chip, but came away just short as his ball skimmed the side of the cup and rolled away harmlessly.

“When he hit it, I thought it looked good,” Bellevue golf coach Aaron Mead said. “But not that good.”

The 3A state tournament will not take place until May 22-23 and Books said his primary concern will be avoiding prolonged stretches away from the links and possibly duplicating his self-proclaimed improbable win on prep golf’s biggest stage.

“I’ve never been to state, so I’m just there for the experience,” Ang said. “But districts was the same mindset, so hopefully I can do what I did again.”

The other 3A state qualifier from Bellevue was Sam Johnson, who finished tied for fifth with a 77.

The Wolverines finished fourth as a team and Brock Meitl, Johnathan Laura and Chandler Hawk also competed. Laura, playing as an alternate, finished with a total of 80.

Paul Heywood of Sammamish ended the day with a 79 and also qualified.

Interlake’s Andrew Kennedy won the 2A West Central District III tournament behind a 36-34-70 performance, finishing two strokes ahead of teammate Grant Cole who ended the day with a score of 72.

The Saints also took the third as Patrick Sato shot 74, fourth with Dawid Papenfus 76 and tied for fifth with Sam Fisher and Andy Liu both shooting 77.

Kennedy, Cole, Sato and Papenfus all automatically qualified for the 2A state tournament on May 22-23. Fisher and Liu will play in a second-chance state qualifying tournament to earn one of four remaining state berths.