ARLINGTON — Anthony Allen picked up a golf club when he was 8 years old. Jack Lindley took his first swing when he was in eighth grade. Although the Arlington High golfers started out differently, they finished the high school season as the top two players respectively on the Eagles’ golf team.

In fact, their performance in 2011 earned them All-Wesco recognition. Allen made First Team and Lindley earned Second Team honors.

For Allen, he took the announcement in stride — as if he’s been there, done that, which he has. As for Lindley, the junior didn’t even know he’d made the team.

“I don’t know why I made it,” Lindley said. “Honestly I didn’t even know. I didn’t have a great season, but it’s an honor.”

As just a sophomore, Allen made his second trip to the Class 4A State Championship in as many seasons. He finished tied for 21st after posting rounds of 79 and 74 on the par-72 Qualchan Golf Course located in Spokane.

“I was feeling really good going into state,” Allen said. “I was hitting the ball better than I have all year. But my putting was horrible. My ball striking was good, but my putting just wasn’t there.”

Although competing at the state championship may be intimidating for some, Allen approached it as just another tournament, and for good reason. During the off-season, he competes in the Washington Junior Golf Association, and has been for the past eight years.

“It was just another state championship for me,” he said. “I have been playing competition golf for a long time, and I have been to the state tournament many times while playing on the WJGA. But overall, I had a great time. I just hope to have a better tournament next season.”

Last year, Allen placed second at the WJGA state tournament and finished seventh the year before. The WJGA is set up like high school golf. There are six districts and the top golfers from each district move on to the state tournament. Allen has won seven sub-district tournaments and placed second in three district tournaments.

Allen shot a season-low 70 this past April at Stanwood’s Kayak Golf Course.

“My season average was 73 or 74,” he said. “So, I was pretty happy shooting 70 on a difficult course.”

As for Lindley, he made the high school districts, but failed to qualify for the state tournament.

“I played horribly,” Lindley said. “I just blew up. But I didn’t play much last summer, and golf is a mental sport and you need to play to get better.”

Lindley, who shot his best round of 75 this past season at Gleneagle, will join Allen this summer on the WJGA tour, which begins June 23 and runs until the end of July.