Ilwaco High School's Blake Kukula wanted to take a swing at Washington golf history. The COVID-19 outbreak took that away

In all of five minutes, Ilwaco High School's Blake Kukula went from extreme disappointment to big-picture realization. This was supposed to be his time to make

In all of five minutes, Ilwaco High School's Blake Kukula went from extreme disappointment to big-picture realization.

This was supposed to be his time to make history in WIAA golf. He was the overwhelming favorite to become the first boy ever to win four state titles, at any level.

Kukula had quit basketball over the winter to concentrate solely on preparing for the quest. He practiced. His mental game continued to mature. He was ready.

And on April 6, after Washington Governor Jay Inslee declared school would be canceled the rest of the year because of the COVID-19 outbreak, WIAA officials announced that all spring sports were called off.

"(Winning four 1B/2B titles in a row) was in my head this year," Kukula said. "I had a shot. To see it wiped out, it was tough at first, for sure.

"But the reality of it ... what can you do? At the end of the day, I cannot control or change that."

As is stands, Kukula is still in elite company. Five others boys - Richland's Steve Stull (1967-69), Life Christian's (and current PGA Tour member) Andrew Putnam (2004, 2006-07), Hockinson's Gaston De La Torre (2006-08), DeSales' Ryan Baumgart (2011-13) and Fort Vancouver's Spencer Tibbits (2014, 2016-17) - have won three WIAA individual golf championships.

And Kukula still has plenty of golf left to play. He is signed at Seattle University (just like his brother, Ross).

"We've come from a different path," Kukula said.

The youngest of three brothers, Kukula has grown up on nine-hole Surfside Golf Course in Ocean City, located in Pacific County, where his father, Jon, is not only the head professional, he is also the course-care superintendent.

"He works all the time," said Kukula, who has worked on the Surfside maintenance crew and behind the pro-shop counter over the years. "He instilled that do-not-waste-time mentality."

And the teenager did not waste any time pursuing state titles.

In fact, he received a WIAA waiver to join Ilwaco's varsity squad as an eighth grader in 2016 - and was in contention on the final day of the 1B/2B tournament, eventually finishing second to Davenport's Palmer Guhlke at MeadowWood Golf Course in Spokane.

The next year, with Guhlke in the field as a senior, Kukula captured his first state championship as a ninth grader by seven strokes (145) at Horn Rapids in the Tri-Cities.

And he kept winning: By three shots (143) as a sophomore at Hangman Valley in 2018; and last year by six strokes (144) at Tumwater Valley.

His three state titles are the most of any Ilwaco athlete in school history.

"My strengths? Sure, I'd like to be known as a guy who isn't big at 5-6, but pounds it (off the tee)," Kukula said. "And that I have a really good short game, and can get up and down from anywhere.

"Oh yeah, and that I feel like I can beat anybody. I know how to win. I know how to finish the deal."