Austin Geiger’s and Kelly Campbell’s relationship was forged on the golf course.

And although the paths of Auburn Mountainview’s No. 1 and 2 players differ greatly, both juniors have ended at the same place the last two seasons – the state 3A golf championship.

This season Campbell, 17, took home a three-way tie for 12th place with a two-round, 3-over-par 147 on Spokane’s MeadowWood par-74 course. Geiger also made the day-two cut, posting a two-round 158, good for a tie for 41st.

For Campbell, the son of former PGA pro Doug Campbell, the journey began as soon as he could hold a club.

“My dad was a pro (at the Auburn Golf Course), so I’d go down and putt,” Campbell said. “But I didn’t start playing until I was 8. When I was 9, I started playing tournaments.”

Campbell played every sport he could growing up. Golf was always important, but it wasn’t his only focus. When he turned 15, however, he decided to concentrate on golf.

“I wanted to be pro at all of (my sports), but then I realized golf was my best chance,” he said.

As a freshman, Campbell nabbed the South Puget Sound League 3A regular-season scoring championship capping the year with an 18th-place finish at the state tourney.

As a sophomore, Campbell again qualified for the state tourney, again finishing 18th.

Although he finished higher at state this season, Campbell was disappointed with his performance.

“I just didn’t have as good of a year as I was hoping,” Campbell said. “I’m not really pleased. I wanted to win state and do a little better in league. I didn’t shoot under par under for the season, which is something I wanted to do.”

In order to improve his finish, both in the regular season and at state next year, Campbell intends to

put in the work on the course.

“My ball striking is the strongest part of my game,” Campbell said. “(My putting) is not really a struggle, it’s just kind of a work in progress. I’m not quite where I want to be with my putting, but I’m better than I used to be. I have really bad eyesight, so it makes more of a difference with reading the greens.”

Geiger’s golf journey is a shorter one.

After concentrating on baseball most of his life, the 17-year-old got serious about golf three years ago.

“I used to play with my grandpa during the summer,” Geiger said. “At the end of eighth grade, I started taking it serious, got hooked and started playing a lot.”

During his freshman year at Auburn Mountainview, Geiger turned out for the golf squad earning junior varsity player of the year honors.

“Then I gave up baseball, and in my sophomore year, I made varsity,” Geiger said. “It just started getting addicting. I just started playing more, liked it and decided I wanted to go after the challenge of getting better and trying to do the best I could.”

The summer after his freshman year, Geiger started partnering up with Campbell on local courses.

“We started playing a lot and then became one and two on varsity. We play together year round now,” Geiger said.

For the young golfer, the chance to play with a better player was crucial for his development on the links.

“It’s been big,” Geiger said. “You want to beat that person. It takes you to the next level and makes you better. It helps you handle the pressure of the situation. He normally beats me, but I have my days where I can pull it out and beat him.”

The competition made the difference for Geiger, who qualified for the state tourney as a sophomore, finishing 29th.

“I’m good all-around, it just depends,” Geiger said of his game. “I can be really good at putting one day, and the next not. Or one day I’ll hit the ball really straight, and then the next day not. It’s off-and-on for me because I’ve only been playing for three or four years. So I’m not as experienced as a lot of the players who have been playing their whole life.”

Geiger and Campbell plan to fine tune their games this summer.

“During the summer I try to get out at least four times a week,” Geiger said. “I want to score the best I can, have a one-over average for (my senior) season and hopefully get into the top 10 at state. I can do it if I put my mind to it.”

Campbell agrees.

“I wouldn’t have guessed he’d be at state as a sophomore or junior,” he said.

For Campbell, who hopes to attend and play golf at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas as a stepping stone to a PGA pro career, next season is all about living up to his potential.

“I know my potential is to shoot in the 60s,” he said. “If I have a bad day, and end up shooting like a 78, I don’t want people to think that’s what I should be shooting. I know what I should be shooting, and I want to put in the number I should. That’s my motivation.”